CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The celebration of the 50th Nutrition Month in July this year will focus on promoting the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-228, according to the National Nutrition Council Region 7 (NNC-7).
The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) serves as the framework for an integrated program of nutrition interventions that aims to reduce all forms of malnutrition across all life stages through programs that focus on healthier diet, better practices, and improved access to quality services.
In a press conference on June 20, NNC-7 regional nutrition program coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission said the 2024 Nutrition Month launching will be highlighted by the “PPANalo” Service Caravan, which offers free nutrition services from government agencies and other partner institutions.
The NNC will also engage local government officials in implementing programs and campaigns that will spread awareness about the significance of nutrition.
The agency will conduct month-long barangay fora, thematic seminars, and in-depth educational sessions about healthier diet and nutrition practices and promote better nutritional habits.
Mission urged the local government units (LGUs) in the region to elevate their investment in nutrition.
“To address the problem of nutrition, LGUs, including our barangays, with the leadership of our local chief executives, should strengthen their investment in nutrition. By doing that, we can provide better nutrition enrichment sa mga bata (for the children) and ten times more likely we can prevent childhood illnesses,” she said.
Malnutrition incidence down in Region 7
NNC-7 also reported that malnutrition in Central Visayas has decreased in all indicators compared to previous years.
Records show that stunting prevalence is at 7 in every 100 children in 2023, down from 8 in 2022; wasting prevalence stands at 3 in every 100 in 2023; and overweight and obesity prevalence stand at 2 in every 100.
Around 48,000 pre-school children are affected by stunting, 95,000 experienced wasting, and 13,970 are reported to be overweight or obese.
“Nalipay ta nga niubos atong prevalence sa malnutrition, but ang magnitude ani mao atong gitan-aw. Ang atong goal unta wala nay bata nga maka experience og stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity, including sad mga adults, mao nang this Nutrition Month atong gipahingusgan ang PPAN,”added Mission.
(We are happy that malnutrition prevalence decreased, but we are also looking at the magnitude. Our goal is that no child will experience stunting, wasting, or is overweight and obese, including the adults. This is why we are promoting the PPAN this Nutrition Month.)
The NNC-7 aims to achieve at least a 1 percent annual reduction in malnutrition rate in Central Visayas.
The council has called for a strong collaboration and unified effort in advocating the PPAN to achieve the goal of having “nutrition security.”
“I encourage the public to support the Nutrition Month activities and our LGUs to continuously engage and enhance their respective current plans of action for nutrition. We also call on other stakeholders to collaborate and be involved so we can attain sustainability in our nutrition programs,” said Mission.
The 50th Nutrition Month celebration will start on July 1 with the theme “Sa PPAN: Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat! (Through PPAN, let’s collaborate on nutrition security for all!).” (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
