Cebu City – A ceremonial stripping of an enlarged picture of a hungry child giving way to a healthy child was the highlight of the Nutrition Month 2013 Launching Program last 01 July 2013 at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.
The objectives of the activity were to increase awareness among mall-goers on hunger-related issues and actions to mitigate hunger and malnutrition.
Officials who participated in the ceremonial “Hunger Rip-Off” were DOH – CHD 7’s ARD Dr. Lakshmi I. Legaspi, Saint Anthony Mother and Child Hospital’s Chief Nurse, Dr. Rosenie S. Coronado, USC – Nutrition and Dietetics Chair, Ms. Elvira B. Madronial, Cebu Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Cristina B. Giango and NNC 7’s Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission.
Government organizations, non-government organizations and civic groups joined in the Launching Program. RNC member agencies (DOH, DA, DSWD, DepEd, DILG, PopCom, Cebu Province), SAMCH, CDUH-CN, USC - CN NDAP, PAN, Cebu City Agriculture Office, Cebu City Health Department, Barangay Sambag 1, Barangay Sambay 2, Barangay Mambaling, Barangay Busay, Cebu City Nutrition Committee, Mandaue City Nutrition Committee, all joined the activity to show their support and help advocate among mall-goers that it’s the Nutrition Month 2013 and its focus on hunger.
A crowd of about a hundred attended rip-off event. They pledged their commitment to do their share as individuals and organizations to help reduce hunger and malnutrition. Specifically, they committed to help advocate exclusive breastfeeding/breastfeed babies exclusively from birth to six months and the giving appropriate complementary food while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond; establish home, community and school gardens, raising poultry, small animals or fish both for home consumption and for selling to augment households income; support local farmers by buying locally-grown foods; cook and eat just enough food to avoid food wastage; support feeding programs in the community; and be informed. Know, practice and spread good nutrition. The rip-off symbolized the different organizations contribution in the battle against hunger. //DFB
