2022 Nutrition Month kicks off today

CEBU, Philippines — Now on its 48th year, the 2022 Nutrition Month Celebration in Central Visayas, centered on the theme “New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-samang Gawan ng Solusyon!” will be officially launched today, July 1, at SM City Consolacion.

The theme aims for a collective effort to improve nutrition in the future, specifically, to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition in building resilience and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, stimulate discussion of stakeholders on scaling up nutrition interventions and engage the public to promote nutrition.

As the region continues to battle hunger and malnutrition compounded by said pandemic and the recent economic unrest, the Central Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee and its Technical Working Group aims to make a dent on the current nutrition situation which remains a public health concern with over 72,000 children under five years of age suffering long-term malnutrition (stunting/potot), 17,884 are shown to be acutely malnourished (wasted/niwang).

NNC-7, in a statement, said that while the sudden change in lifestyle brought about by the new normal has also affected overnutrition with 23,441 children under five years of age assessed as overweight.

In Central Visayas, the regional launch will have a series of activities to help raise the public’s awareness of the importance of nutrition – highlighting the government’s nutrition services for individuals and the community.

NNC-7 regional nutrition program coordinator Parolita Mission said that Region 7 will be starting off the month-long celebration with a mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu, Cebu City.

The launching program on the other hand will officially begin with a mini parade at SM City Consolacion at 1:30 p.m. followed by a short program which is highlighted by children’s costume contest, and the launch of the Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program.

Other line-up activities include the launching of the Nutrition Month Social Media Campaign with a localized hashtag #NewtritionMonth2022.

This social media campaign includes a reel making contest, an infographic contest and the introduction of the Idol ko si Nanay Nutrition School on Air (Season 2), and the re-introduction of new normal nutrition service packages and ending with the opening of the booth area of new normal nutrition services.

The activity expects beneficiaries of the Tutok Kainan Program which comprise of children 6-23 months old, their caregivers, members of the Regional Nutrition Committee Technical Working Group, NNC 7’s Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Network as well as members of the Consolacion municipal ang barangay nutrition committees. — GMR (FREEMAN)