This year’s Nutrition Month campaign – “Malnutrisyonpatuloynalabanan, First 1000 days tutukan!” 

A theme is chosen each year to highlight an important and timely concern on nutrition which is approved by the NNC Technical Committee. Malnutrition in the country is expected to worsen as a result of the pandemic and limited resources for nutrition. For 2021, the theme highlights the call for continued efforts to fight Malnutrition focused on the First 1000 Days of life - starting from the first day of conception until the 2nd birthday of the child - globally considered as the “golden window of opportunity” for interventions that aim to achieve the maximum potential of a child’s growth and development. 

The focus on the First 1000 Days of Life is one of the strategic thrusts of PPAN 2017-2022. The PPAN gives priority to the nutritionally vulnerable (pregnant and lactating women, infants, and young children 0-23 months old) and those who are already malnourished, among others. The 1000 days comprise 270 days of pregnancy, 365 days for the first year of the life of the child, and another 365 days for the 2nd year of his/her life. The First 1000 Days is the period of rapid growth where nutrient deficiencies can have long-term consequences. Good nutrition during this period can help maximize the child’s ability to grow, learn and develop which has a profound effect on his/her health, wellbeing, and success later on in adulthood. The quality of nutrition during the First 1000 Days can have a significant impact on the achievement of national and global development goals.

NNC Region VI encourages all stakeholders, the local government units, non-government organizations, civil society, business, academe, communities, and families in Western Visayas to plan for the campaign in July and include sustaining activities for the rest of the year. Together let’s focus on continued efforts for the First 1000 Days of life as the strategic intervention to prevent stunting and obesity.