By
Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN
CITY - The National Nutrition Council gathered a group of media
practitioners of the Zamboanga Peninsula region in a planning workshop held recently
at Alindahahaw Lakeview Resort, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur to discuss hunger
issues and to drum up good nutrition campaigns.
NNC
emphasized the importance of good nutrition among media men so they would adopt
the same advocacy in their respective radio programs, columns or even in their
news releases.
Hunger
incidence in the Philippines has worsened in recent years affecting more
Filipino families. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization describes hunger as
a condition in which people do not get enough food to provide the nutrients
for fully productive, active and healthy
lives.
Filipinos
go hungry because food is unavailable or insufficient, or they do not have
money to buy food. Hunger, if prolonged can lead to malnutrition.
Maria
del Pilar Pamela R. Tarroza, NNC-9
Nutrition Program Coordinator said among those considered food poorest
provinces include Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay based on the 2013
Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES).
Ms.
Tarroza apprised the media with the nutrition challenges in the ZamPen region
and the priority directions of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. Despite
the hunger mitigation program of the government such as increasing food
production, putting more money in poor people’s pockets such as the Conditional
cash Transfer, promoting proper nutrition and managing population, many
Filipinos are still hungry.
Citing
major nutritional problems, Ms. Nimfa D. Ekong, also of NNC 9 said
protein-energy malnutrition include Vit. A Deficiency Disorder, Iodine
Deficiency Disorder, Iron Deficiency Anemia and others.
According
to the 2011 survey, among 0-60 month-children, 25.2% are underweight and 42.2
are under height; while among 6-10 years old schoolchildren, 34.6% are underweight
and 43.5 are under height.
With
this scenario, campaign for exclusive breastfeeding has been pursued. Breastfeeding
has distinct advantages that benefit both the infant and the mother.
Exclusive
breastfeeding means giving your baby breastmilk and no other liquid or solid
food, not even water up to 6 months. Starting 6 months however, supplemental
feeding should be given while continuing to breastfeed the baby up to 24
months. Breastmilk is the best food for infants and young children.
Highlighting
the workshop was a dialogue with Ms. Tarroza and Ms. Tess dela Cruz,
Information Officer of DOH-CHD together with the media where the group discussed
how to effectively implement collaborative actions to address the gaps by
maximizing the use of radio, print, TV and social media.
Nutrition
Month is celebrated every July and this year’s observance has for its theme,
“Gutom at Malnutrisyon, Sama-Sama nating Wakasan.” (PIA9)