CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Regional Nutrition Committee Northern Mindanao and City Nutrition Committee-Cagayan de Oro held the 48th July Nutrition Month Kick-Off Activity with a motorcade and a program at Kiosk Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City.

"The theme, "New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-samang gawan ng Solusyon!" calls to strengthen our nutrition interventions and solidarity towards the nutrition improvement for better new normal," said National Nutrition Council-Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae Fernandez.

The intention of the celebration is to raise awareness on how nutrition can support the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases particularly to strengthen immunity.

She also underscored the importance of support from different stakeholders on how to build back better nutrition interventions to level up or scale up to aid malnutrition and engage various sectors to support nutrition. "Let's be part of the solution," she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rachel D. Dilla, department head of City Health Office CHO, cited the importance of nutrition especially in children.

She reminded the mothers and caretakers the importance of providing nutritious food such as fruits and vegetables and to avoid fast food. Diabetes cases are not only found in the adult age group but as early as 10 years old, she added.

She also urged Kagay-anons to take booster shots against COVID-19 because the virus is still lurking and further reminded the public that dengue cases have increased in the city. "Let us clean our surroundings and our homes," she said.

The kick off activity also comprised of unveiling of the 2022 Nutrition Month Theme and intermission number by the CDO Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) Federation Officers through the opening of First 1000 Days Jingle Dance Competition and participated by Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines, nutrition officers, national government agencies and barangays in the city. (JMOR/PIA-10)