Nutrition month celebration features forum on nutrition

Tuesday 10th of July 2012

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, July 10 (PIA) -- The provincial government held a nutrition forum last July 6 at the Queen Margarette Hotel in line with the nutrition month celebration with the theme, “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain.”

Municipal nutrition action officers, day care workers and municipal social welfare and development officers from the different towns in the province attended the forum slated in cooperation with the multi-sectoral nutrition council, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-4A and the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-4A.

Provincial Agriculturist Roberto Gajo during the forum said there is a need to develop a strategic plan to address the causes of malnutrition to uplift the nutritional status specifically in municipalities with high incidence of malnutrition.

He added that malnutrition is caused by several factors such as poverty and food insecurity and recommended that all mothers plant vegetables in their backyard to sustain the nutritional requirement of the family.

“Nutritious food does not need to be expensive because a lot can be obtained within the surroundings,” Gajo added.

Meanwhile, the provincial government is still implementing the ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ program which aims to promote good nutrition, especially among school children. The program is implemented in the province in partnership with Department of Education (DepEd)-Quezon.

The nutritional status of Quezon province, updates on supplementary feeding programs and overview on micronutrients were discussed during the forum. (CPG/RMO,PIA-Quezon)