Nutrition council gears up program vs malnutrition

CEBU, Philippines - The National Nutrition Council-7 will intensify its programs for this year in its effort to attain a malnutrition-free region.

The Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development-7 of the NNC-7, in its first quarter meeting yesterday, conducted a Local Media Plan for 2017 which aimed at reducing malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies in Central Visayas.

MIND-7 is an organization of media practitioners in tri-media including bloggers in Central Visayas who are promoting nutrition and other related issues and concerns.  The group is also committed to help further reduce the trend of undernutrition among children in Central Visayas despite the slight decrease in malnutrition rate in the region.

The result of the 2016 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus showed a decrease of 0.31 percent in the prevalence of underweight from 4.91 in 2015 to 4.6 percent in 2016 for 0 to 71 months old.

The same report also showed a decrease in the stunting prevalence from 13.88 percent in 2015 to 12.64 percent in 2016.

A significant decline was also noted in each of the provinces of the region, including Negros Oriental; Bohol from 4.33 percent to 3.97 percent; Cebu from 7.28 percent to 6.21 percent; Negros Oriental from 6.95 percent to 5.84 percent; and Siquijor  4.46 percent from 5.31 percent.

Undernutrition can result in children either being short of their age (stunted) or children weighing less for their height (wasted). Wasting is a deadly form of undernutrition which increases the risk of child's death.

"I really want to thank the members of MIND-7 for this achievement. You have contributed to the success of this endeavor. Thank you for helping us in our advocacies and programs in addressing nutrition-related concerns," said Parolita Mission, nutrition program coordinator of NNC-7.

Mission added that media advocacy is part of NNC-7's campaign to promote a proper and good nutrition.

During the meeting, NNC-7 and MIND-7 tackled ways that will help government in addressing hunger problems in the region.

NNC-7 Nutrition Officer I Norre Jean delos Santos said their agency will hold a region-wide summit on nutrition to present the Philippines Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022.

Moreover, the groups also discussed the upcoming 43rd Nutrition Month celebration with a theme, "Healthy diet gawing habit for life.” The celebration is slated in July.

The Regional Nutrition Summit will feature “malnutrition-elimination best practices” among local government units.

The celebration will also be focused on the importance of healthy diet as a way to prevent acquiring non-communicable diseases caused by both undernutrition and overnutrition to attain a happy and productive life.

"Unhealthy eating is responsible for a plethora of health problems that plaque today's society. An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for malnutrition which also leads to different nutritional deficiencies and several chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and diet-related cancers," the 2017 Nutrition Month Plan reads.

It added that healthy eating means consuming the right quantity of food from all food groups to achieve a healthy and active life.

 "Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases and improve your overall health," the statement further reads. (FREEMAN)