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- Category: Region 12
September is National Epilepsy Awareness Month in the Philippines. Epilepsy is a neuromuscular disorder in which abnormal electric activity in the brain causes recurring transient seizures. There is an unregulated chaotic electric discharge that occurs during seizures. The patient may experience loss of consciousness which may last for a few seconds, as in petit mal attacks or which may be accompanied by convulsions as in grand mal attacks. This condition occurs more frequently in children than in adults.
Lack of understanding about epilepsy may lead to misinterpretation, social disgrace and hampers access to successful treatment; Having Epilepsy can lead to serious medical consequences and is both an economic and social burden. Consequently, Nutrition Management for epilepsy is important to ensure appropriate diet for normal growth during childhood and adolescence and for health maintenance in adulthood. It seeks to ameliorate side effects of the anti-convulsant drugs used
One of the recommended diet for patients with epilepsy is Ketogenic Diet. It is a high fat diet with a ratio of 3:1 by weight to produce ketosis by limiting the amount of available glucose and increasing markedly the intake of fat so that complete combustion of fats cannot take place. This diet will also reduce the need for anti-convulsant drugs. Patients taking Dilantin as anti-convulsant drugs are advised to have rich a diet rich in folic acid since Dilantin is antagonist to folic acid.
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Proclamation No. 162 signed on Aug. 21, 1999, by former President Joseph Estrada declares the first week of September of every year as Obesity Prevention Awareness Week. Obesity is noted as one of the country’s serious health problems hence the declaration is hereby intensified to increase the knowledge and awareness of the public on the rising recognized risks of obesity.
Obesity is a complex disease involving an abnormal or excessive amount of body fat. According to World Health Organization (WHO), body mass index (BMI) is determined by using height (in meters) and weight (in kilograms) which is quantified by dividing the weight by the square of height (kg/m2). BMI greater than or equal to 25 is interpreted as overweight while a BMI equal to or greater than 30 is considered obese. People with obesity are more likely to develop several potentially serious health problems, including heart disease and strokes, type 2 diabetes, cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate, digestive problems, gynecological and sexual problems, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and severe COVID-19 symptoms.
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- Category: Region 12
KIDAPAWAN CITY---The Local Government of Kidapawan City thru the City Nutrition Office conducted a culmination program in celebration of the Breastfeeding Awareness Month with the theme, “Tulong-tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1000 days”. The said activity was held on August 25-26, 2021 at Habitat-Brgy. Health Station, Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City.
In tangent with the Breastfeeding Awareness Month, the activity also aims to gather breastmilk donors for a cause which was participated by 13 mothers. Hon. Marites Malaluan, SP Committee on Health, expressed in her message that the city is now striding efforts to scale up health and nutrition interventions, hence teeing off their plans for establishing Human Milk Bank.
Read more: LGU Kidapawan gathers lactating mothers for breastmilk donation
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- Category: Region 12
The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team of SOCCSKSARGEN is currently conducting the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) particularly for the Local Nutrition Focal Points for CY 2019 which started at second week of July after few adjustments on schedules due to the on-going pandemic.
As of this writing, five Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) serving as contenders for the Regional Outstanding BNS were already evaluated from the following LGUs: General Santos City (July 13), Tacurong City (July 28), Kidapawan City (August 12), Koronadal City (August 13) and from Sarangani Province (August 23). The team will also assess the 2019 performance of Local Nutrition Focal points covering the Provincial/Local Nutrition Action Officer and Local Nutrition Program Coordinators with at least two years of service. Meanwhile, the team has already conducted validation visit in the quest of determining Local Nutrition Action Officer and Nutrition Program Coordinator of the year in Kidapawan City last August 11 and 24 respectively. On the otherhand, evaluation activities will be extended until the fourth quarter of the year due to the community quarantine protocols brought about by COVID-19.
Read more: RNET SOX moves for MELLPI Pro on Nutrition Focal Points
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Between a mother's pregnancy and her child's next birthday, there is a 1,000-day window of opportunity to shape a child's development. What occurs here hugely affects a child's future — which means each clock ticking matters.
Malnutrition's Agony
As indicated by National Nutrition Council (NNC), children who do not arrive at their full mental and actual potential will be less productive in school and at work. For the rest of their lives, they will procure less, have a lower level of education, and be more inclined to constant illnesses.
Similarly, they are additionally bound to have malnourished children who have debilitated resistant frameworks — putting them at a higher risk of infection, which could not be arriving at adulthood in the first place.
Read more: (Heal)(Thy) Baby: Nourishing Future towards Nutritious Life
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Breastfeeding, according to World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the most effective way to ensure child health and survival. Thus, in the Philippines, every month of August is designated as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, to raise public understanding about the importance of breastfeeding, boost breastfeeding promotion and protection, and gain widespread support for breastfeeding in the country.
