Nutrition workers push preparedness campaign on emergencies

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Nutrition workers in this province continue to advocate nutrition preparedness in times of emergencies as they urge all Ilocanos to always have a ready food stock to prevent hunger and malnutrition.

This was the highlight of the culminating program of the 40^th Nutrition Month celebration in Ilocos Norte held at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital attended by health workers here.

Since the first week of July, nutrition workers based in various city and municipality health stations have been conducting nutrition campaigns particularly in coastal barangays where malnourished children are mostly found.

The campaign focused on nutrition in emergencies with the theme, “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan!” (Prepare for emergencies to prevent hunger and malnutrition!)

Provincial nutritionist Irma Irapta said a training on nutrition in emergencies was earlier conducted among nutrition workers in the province to facilitate early intervention and response.

In support of the national government’s policy through the National Nutrition Council’s governing board of Resolution No. 2, series of 2009, she said local government units here and the general public must recognize the importance of preparedness during emergencies and to institute recovery measures to prevent death and malnutrition of affected population groups.

Based on the 2011 National Nutrition Survey, 20.2% of children aged 0-5 years are underweight; 7.3% of children aged 0-5 years are wasted; 8.5% of children aged 6-10% years are wasted; and 33.6% of children aged 5-10 years are stunted.

Records show that malnutrition in the Philippines is a pre-existing problem and can, therefore worsen when emergencies and disasters strike.

Provincial hospital administrator Juanito Chua said there is also an increasing number of obesity nationwide, which is also a case of malnutrition.

Every month of July, the country celebrates nutrition as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 491 or the so called Nutrition Act of the Philippines promulgated in 1974 to fight hunger and malnutrition.

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