NNC urges LGUs to prioritize pregnant women, infants in feeding programs

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Friday called on local governments to prioritize pregnant women and infants six to 23 months old in feeding programs.

Nutrition Information and Education Division chief Jovita Raval stressed the importance of good nutrition during this period to prevent stunting and lack of development in children.

“So ito ‘yung inaadhika namin sa mga LGUs na kung magkakaroon sila ng feeding programs, i-prioritize nila ‘yung mga buntis at saka ‘yung six to 23 months,” she said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(So this is what we’re proposing to LGUs if they will hold feeding programs, prioritize the pregnant women and the six to 23 months.)

“Dahil ito ‘yung tinatawag nating first 1,000 days na kailangan ito ‘yung period na maiwasan natin ang pagkabansot kasi hindi lang pagkabansot sa height pero pagkabansot ng utak,” she added.

(Because this is the first 1,000 days and we need to avoid stunting in this period, not just in height but also of the brain.)

She said the first two years are “irreversible.”

“So kung malnourished na sila sa unang dalawang taon, mahirap na nating habulin ‘yan kahit pakainin pa natin (so if they are malnourished in the first two years, we will have a hard time treating that),” she said.

Raval said latest data showed that 3.1 million families experienced hunger in the first months of this year.

Meanwhile, she said the NNC is concerned about the estimated 37 million Filipinos who are obese and overweight.

“Nababahala po ang NNC kaya ang isa nating sinusulong ay maaprubahan ‘yung nabuo nating National Policy on Addressing Overweight and Obesity,” she said.

(The NNC is alarmed so we are pushing for the approval of the National Policy on Addressing Overweight and Obesity.)

She said they are also pushing for the approval of the Nutrient Profile Model which states which foods are unhealthy to be marketed to the youth.

Raval said they are also in constant coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa DepEd para pagbalik sa face-to-face classes, ‘yung pagkain na mabibili sa mga canteen at saka sa mga paligid ng eskwelahan ay ‘yun lang masustansya,” she said.

(We are coordinating with DepEd so that when the face-to-face classes resume, only nutritious foods are available to the students.)

“Sinusulong natin na ‘yung mga lokal na pamahalaan magkaroon din ng mga ordinansa na ipagbawal din ‘yung pagbenta at pag market, no, ‘yung mga advertising ng mga hindi masustansyang pagkain at saka inumin,” she added.

(We are also urging local government units to approve ordinances that prohibit the sale and advertising of unhealthy food and drinks.)

According to Raval, the theme of this year’s Nutrition Month is "New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon!"—AOL, GMA News