TACLOBAN CITY -- Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr., Regional Nutrition Program coordinator of National Nutrition Council (NNC) here, led a contingent of media practitioners from Eastern Visayas to the launching of "Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022" in Iloilo City on May 2, 2017.
The five press personalities are all members of NNC-8's media-group partner Harmonized Initiatives of Media for the Spread of Good Nutrition in Region 8 (HIMSoG-8) headed by its President Antonio C. Pueblos-manager of Radyo ng Bayan (DYOG) Calbayog, Vice President Jacob C. Gadaingan--editor/publisher of Nation Builder, Treasurer Ray P. Gaspay--editor/publisher of Samar New.com, Evelyn B. Bacol--operator/proprietor of cable television Aton TV, and Nelson Braga--cameraman/videographer of Aton TV.
Department of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial spearheaded the launching activities together with the NNC Governing Board, key national and local stakeholders, and tri-media personalities nationwide at the Grand Xing Hotel, Iloilo City.
The PPAN is the country's roadmap in the eternal fight against malnutrition in the Philippines. It contains lists of plans, programs and activities with goals to measure progress for a period of six years--or one administration term.
PPAN 2017-2022, composed of 12 programs, is an integral part of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 that is consistent with Duterte Administration's 10-Point Socio-Economic Agenda as well as the Philippine Health Agenda. It aims to significantly improve the nutritional status of children with stunting and wasting; lower down the number of children suffering from micronutrient deficiency--or lack of vitamin A, Iron and Iodine; and lower or arrest the incidence of overweight and obesity.
Based on 2015 National Nutrition Survey, 33.4% or 3.8 million children are stunted while 7.1% or 807,057 are wasted. It also showed that over-nutrition manifesting as overweight and obesity are emerging health concerns among children, and a major problem among adults with 18 million Filipinos overweight and obese.
The new nutrition roadmap specifically targets to reduce the prevalence of stunting currently at 33.4%, the highest in South East Asia, to 21% by year 2022.
Department of Health Assistant-Secretary and NNC Executive Director Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, who presented the PPAN 2017-2022 during the launching said, "If we achieve these goals we contribute to the improvement of quality to our human resource base, reduce inequality, and reduce maternal and child mortality." (Jack C. Gadaingan)
