by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Jan. 27 (PIA) - - To give the stakeholders updates on the implementation of nutrition programs in Zamboanga Peninsula, the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-IX held a conference in Dapitan City recently.
NNC-IX Nutrition Program Coordinator Maria del Pilar Pamela-Tarroza apprised the participants of the specific programs and activities to be undertaken in support of the 2010-2016 Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
Tarroza said “the PPAN aims to address the country’s malnutrition problem and seeks to bring down poverty incidence which is the root cause of the problem.
The regions which appear to be worst-off in underweight prevalence among children aged 0-6 years old are Bicol, 10, Caraga, 11, 9 and 12.
According to Tarroza, one of the programs pursued under PPAN is the strict implementation of the milk code which makes breastfeeding mandatory for newly born babes. Mothers should at least breastfeed their infants from birth to six months.
Pregnant mothers are also urged to get their regular pre-natal checkups to keep them healthy and avoid complications during pregnancy.
Tarroza also recommended a regular meeting among members of the local nutrition committee be held in order to draw up plans and programs on nutrition for the locality. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)