NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) –- Nutrition advocates and stakeholders led the virtual launching of the 47th Nutrition Month celebration in the province, advocating for better nutrition among infants and young children especially in the first 1000 days.
Anchored on the theme "Malnutrition Patuloy na Labanan, First 1000 Days, Tutukan," Provincial Nutrition Committee members from the different government agencies and provincial departments spearheaded the virtual launch with the municipal, city nutrition action officers and barangay nutrition scholars in attendance via zoom.
Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in his recorded message that as we commemorate this year’s Nutrition Month, we face the challenge on how to address malnutrition given the impediments caused by the pandemic in the delivery of essential services.
“Here in Negros Occidental, let us make sure that our plan of actions will involve not just cure but also prevention and proper assistance. Let us be reminded that our province is gifted with the most fertile soil in the country, thus, the production of healthy food products is definitely feasible and viable,” Lacson said, adding that providing Filipinos particularly Negrenses’ access to food and proper nutrition is a primary governmental concern and priority.
Meanwhile, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang told participants in the Zoom platform to focus the nutrition campaign to educate, encourage, and engage stakeholders.
“There must be no let down in our efforts especially in this time of COVID-19 because when we have problems in nutrition most especially in micronutrients deficiency, the big challenge this time with the pandemic is most especially on pregnant women as their access to food security is strained because of their limitations in mobility,” Tumimbang said.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Reginaldo Guillen said that despite limited engagements, the message is clear that we need to push forward the importance of nutrition in the country.
“We are delighted that gradually Nutrition Month has progressed from being just an information dissemination effort to one that calls for active participation of stakeholders and not just in the month of July. Despite the pandemic, we continue the tradition of the Nutrition Month, with the national, regional, local and multi-sectoral launches pursuing nutrition interventions with focus on the First 1000 days,” Guillen added. *(LTP/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)
