Like drugs, malnutrition has to stop – Duterte

CEBU, Philippines — Just like the drug problem, malnutrition problem in the country should be stopped.

This was the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2018 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center on July 31.

Duterte’s keynote message was delivered by Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III.

 "As the President of our beloved country, it is my duty to give hope and assure everyone that the Filipinos are worth every sacrifice.  We are a great race.  The only thing we should do is perform our duties as if everyone depended on us and think of every day as if it was the last. Stop criticizing. Do something good in your capacity like what our winners did.  Good nutrition for everyone is everybody’s business," the president's message reads.

Duterte also urged governors, mayors and barangay chairpersons to perform their role as chair of the nutrition committee seriously.

"You are the pilot and captain of your ship.  You chart the direction where your nutrition program will go… Direct and guide your people so that nutrition services reach every child, mother wherever they are located in your area without delay.  Do not leave anyone behind," Duterte added.

Duterte has, likewise, instructed the National Nutrition Council to ensure stronger cooperation with LGUs particularly in building their capacities to be self-propelling in nutrition program management, through effective planning, budgeting and coordination.

He further urged other national government agencies, not just the NNC member agencies to exert extra effort in converging programs and initiatives in areas where the prevalence of malnutrition is high. 

Duterte added that as the father of this nation, he will make sure that we will be able to significantly curb hunger and malnutrition just like drug abuse that has permeated our society.

The President also calls on Congress to maintain an enabling environment where national policies and programs will complement existing health and nutrition programs at the local level.

"We can only realize these objectives through stronger cooperation between national and local governments. I believe that all of you who are in front of me now, agree with me that effective local leaders with clear vision and concrete decisive actions can deliver the intended results that we want to see in the years to come," the president said.

The awarding ceremony is an annual event of NNC to recognize outstanding local government units and Barangay Nutrition Scholars with effective and efficient implementation of nutrition programs resulting to improved nutrition situation of infants, young children, and mothers.

The event also highlighted the launch of a coffee table book published by the NNC called “Compendium of Actions on Nutrition” in collaboration with Nutrition International and UNICEF Philippines featuring success stories and lessons learned from the implementation of nutrition actions in 11 LGUs.

The compendium will be used in capacitating local government units in formulating comprehensive plans of action, making informed decisions, and adapting best approaches for successful local level implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition.

The NNC, as the country’s highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition, organized the event as culmination of the 2018 Nutrition Month. — MBG (FREEMAN)