Cebu City, Cebu, July 18 (PIA) - The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 7 and the Department of Health (DOH)7 are urging the public to adopt a healthy diet amid the observation of the 49th Nutrition Month this July.

NNC-7 Nutrition Officer III Norre Jean Delos Santos disclosed during the Kapihan sa PIA on July 12, 2023 that services and activities have already been set for this year’s celebration.

Delos Santos said that NNC together with the Cebu City Nutrition Office and DOH-7 launched the Nutrition Month Celebration on July 4 at Plaza Sugbu, Cebu.

The “aFOODable” Fair highlighted the “Nutri RAecipe” contest wherein participants showcased their creativity in cooking healthy and delicious food that are budget-friendly.

From the P200 allocation given by NNC-7, participants bought the ingredients for the healthy meal at the agri-fair set up by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Participants of the agri-fair were farmer-members of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations and beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Programs as well as members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network of the DA.

Blood sugar tests and cholesterol testing were done by doctors from the DOH-7.

Part of the launching was the Season 3 of Nutrition School on Air by NNC, which highlighted the Barangay Nutrition Scholar Program.

The Barangay Nutrition Scholar program was created to provide an effective means of disseminating nutrition information and providing nutrition services to the barangays through a trained community worker.

She also reiterated that a healthy diet or the “Pinggang Pinoy” should consist of “go, grow, and glow” food to prevent malnutrition.

Malnutrition occurs when there is a deficiency or excess in nutrition intake that may cause both overnutrition or obesity, underweight or under nutrition, and stunting.

In addition to health and nutrition, DOH-7 Communicable Disease Section Nurse III Klark Kevin Trocio encouraged the public to also engage in exercise or physical activities and to avail of the deworming tablets from the DOH.

Celebrated in January and July is the National Deworming Month which aims to eradicate intestinal parasitism in children throughout the nation.

Trocio said that deworming should be done twice a year and proper sanitation should be practiced.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is considered a public health concern by the health sector due to its effects on the growth and development of a child.

It can cause anemia, malnutrition, weakness, impaired physical and cognitive development.

The DOH through the barangay health centers are giving albendazole tablets to both children and adults this whole month of July. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)