Bulacan celebrates Nutrition Month, continues to diminish child malnutrition
CITY OF MALOLOS – Emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition and nurturing infants’ first 1,000 days, the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB), along with the whole country, celebrates Nutrition Month from July 1-31, 2016 with the theme, “First 1,000 Days ni Baby Pahalagahan para sa Malusog na Kinabukasan.”
According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Tiongson, this year’s celebration aims to create awareness on the importance of proper infant and young child feeding practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding for the achievement of child’s complete development.
“Ang unang 1,000 araw ng bata ang maituturing na pinakamahalagang bahagi ng paglaki ng bata kung kaya’t dapat silang pangalagaan at bigyan ng tamang nutrisyon na kinakailangan sa kanilang malusog na paglaki,” Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Tiongson said.
The said celebration compromises several activities such as Nutrition Caravans and Information Forum on Nutrition Month, cooking demos and guesting of the Provincial Nutrition Committee on Kalingang Bulakenyo to tackle issues on nutrition.
Meanwhile, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that the celebration is one of the good ways to uphold interventions in addressing the nutrition needs of the Bulakenyos especially the newborns to prevent the increasing cases of malnutrition among children.
“Isa sa mga prayoridad natin na bigyang halaga ang kalusugan ng mga kabataan lalo’t higit ang mga bagong silang na sanggol at ang kani-kanilang mga ina. Ang pagbibigay ng tamang nutrisyon sa kabataan ay nararapat dahil sila ay isang mahalagang salik sa pagbuo ng isang malusog na pamayanan,” the governor said.
Moreover, the province will also launch its program dubbed as “Bayanihan sa Pagsugpo ng Malnutrisyon” that aims to contribute to the full development of the child through integrated services of health and nutrition and to promote collaboration among the local government and the community in joining hands against malnutrition.
“Sa 394,000 na batang may edad na 0-75 months, 97.68% po dito ang normal. Mapapansin po natin na kakaunti lang ang underweight at malnourished. Bagaman ang Bulacan ang mayroong pinakamababang prevalence rate ng malnutrisyon sa Region III, patuloy pa rin ang ating paglulunsad ng mga programa upang masugpo ang malnutrisyon sa mga bata,” Tiongson ended.