NNC 6 to host online kick-off of 2020 Nutrition Month

ILOILO CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council 6 will host a virtual program today, July 1, to kick off the 2020 Nutrition Month celebration in Western Visayas.

Members of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) and Regional Nutrition Technical Committee, provincial/city/municipal nutrition action officers, district/city nutrition program coordinators, barangay nutrition scholars presidents, media partners, and other stakeholders in the region were invited to join the program via Google Meet starting at 2 P.M.

Department of Health 6 Director and RNC Chairperson Dr. Marlyn Convocar will welcome participants while NNC 6 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Nona B. Tad-y will also give a message.

Invited speakers are Dr. Gabriel Demombynes, Program Leader for Human Development in Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines of the World Bank and Jomari Tongol, Nutrition Officer III of the NNC Central Office -Nutrition Information and Education Division.

Demombynes will discuss the topic on “Achieving Zero Hunger and Healthy Growth for All Filipinos” and Tongol on the celebration's theme.

On its 46th year, the Nutrition Month campaign focuses on catalyzing actions to address child stunting. It carries the theme “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL... Iwas stunting, SAMA ALL!” which expresses the aspiration of Filipino families to have children who are able to achieve their fullest potential which can be achieved when all work together.

Unlike in the past, this year's celebration has also a sub theme “Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!” considering the pandemic and the community quarantine measures being implemented.

According to Tad-y, at this time of COVID 19 pandemic, it becomes more important to ensure nutrition among Filipinos to improve resilience against disease and minimize the long-term effects of malnutrition.

She said NNC has three action steps to achieve the objectives of the 2020 National Month campaign which are expected to be sustained throughout the year.

These action steps are: raise awareness on the impact of stunting and evidence-based solutions among families and communities leading to change in behaviors to prevent stunting; stimulate national and local (including communities) discourse on stunting to understand its causes and the multi-sectoral solutions for increased investments in interventions; and generate concrete commitment among various stakeholders to scale-up nutrition actions.

Stunting or being too short for one’s age indicates undernutrition in a child who is not receiving enough nutrition to grow and develop to reach his or her full potential. (JSC/laf/PIA6 Iloilo)

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