By Alma L. Tingcang
IPIL, Zamboanga
Sibugay - To update the media on the various activities being
conducted by the Department of Health IX, a media forum on National School
Deworming Month (NSDM), Nutrition Month celebration and School-Based
Immunization (SBI)was held on July 13 at Roderics Resort here.
Ms. Evelyn Capistrano, DOH-9 Nutrition Coordinator explained the importance of good
nutrition as we celebrate the 42nd Nutrition Month which focuses on
the theme "First 1000 days ni baby, Pahalagahan para sa malusog na
kinabukasan!"
Capistrano said according to the NNC survey
of 2013, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte has high prevalence of malnutrition
and stunted growth. As such, there is a need to refocus efforts especially on
the first 1000 daysof a child.
“If we give primacy on the first 1,000 days,
children would develop normally and do not become a problem of society. When a
child is not given proper nutrition on the first 1000 days, the opportunity
will never come back,” she lamented.
She also cited government interventions
during pregnancy which includes: prenatal care with four visits during the
whole period of pregnancy; delivery must be in the hospital or birthing clinic;
must be given the needed immunization for pregnant women available for free in health centers. Good nutrition is also equally
important.
The nutritionist added that exclusive
breastfeeding should be practiced for the first six months, after which
complementary foods may be added.
She noted that a feeding program for pregnant
women is being done in Zamboanga City to address malnutrition during pregnancy.
She enjoins other LGUs to follow the good practice set by the city.
The establishment of lactation stations in
malls, airports, terminals, hospitals, RHUs and other institutions, where
mothers have the privacy of breastfeeding their baby is also being pushed by
the DOH. To date, the province has lactation stations in GARBEMCO, ZAMSURECO
II, Wilter Palma Hospital in Diplahan, RHU Naga and Kabasalan Integrated Bus
Terminal.
Capistrano also underscored the vital role of
media in information dissemination to dispel any negative comments or reactions
of the public as in the case of the first deworming in July, 2015 which caused
parents to panic.
Meanwhile, the National School Deworming
Month will be done in August, this year as revealed by Ms. Maria Raiza C.
Anino. The program is conducted in partnership with DOH, DILG and DepEd.
Anino called on parents to support the
activity and ensure that children have a full meal before being given the
deworming pills. DOH has taken all the necessary measures to prevent the
occurrence of confusion and commotion like what happened in July last year.
DOH-9 records show
that512,130 or 81.28 percent of schoolchildren from kinder to grade 6 in public
elementary schools were given deworming pills last January 27, 2016 during the
National School Deworming Day (NSDD).Starting July this year, NSDD will become
NSDM.