48th Nutrition Month focuses on stunting reduction, nutrition amid COVID –19

BAGUIO CITY, July 5 (PIA) – – The National Nutrition Council(NNC) leads the observance of the 48th National Nutrition Month which focuses on stunting reduction and the role of good nutrition in COVID – 19 prevention.

NNC- Cordillera Regional Nutrition Coordinator Rita Papey shared that this year’s Nutrition Month advocacy campaign theme, “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL… Iwas Stunting, SAMA ALL!” expresses the aspiration of Filipino families to have children who are able to achieve their fullest potential and this can be achieved when we all work together.

Papey outlined that 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, remains to be a concern in the country and in Cordillera.

At the national level, the current Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017 – 2022 targets a reduction of stunting prevalence from 33.4% in 2015 to 21.4 percent in 2022.

For Cordillera, the Regional Nutrition Committee targets to reduce the stunting prevalence from 12.07% in 2017 to 9.58% in 2022 as indicated in the updated Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017 – 2022, Papey shared.

On the 2019 Operation Timbang Plus results in Cordillera, stunting prevalence in the region improved to 10.18 percent  though per provinces stunting prevalence remains high in Abra with 17.28 percent, Apayao with 15.79 percent, and Kalinga with 15.62 percent and Mountain Province with 14.94 percent. Single digit prevalence rate was recorded in Baguio City, Benguet and Ifugao with 2.42, 7.50 and 8.03 percent, respectively.

Meantime, Papey also shared that this year’s observance of Nutrition Month adopts the sub- theme, “Iwas ALL din sa COVID – 19”.  With community quarantine still in effect, it becomes more imperative to ensure nutrition among Filipinos to improve resilience against the coronavirus disease and minimize its long – term effects on people’s nutrition.

The observance also  highlights the importance of having good nutrition in the fight against COVID – 19  as it is a key to build immunity, protection against illness and infection especially of children and pregnant women  as well as in support to the recovery of patients, she  stressed.

Papey also advises the public especially those staying at home or working from home to focus on their nutritional needs by ensuring a balance diet and by being creative on their eating habits and include nutritious food in their menu. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)