‘New normal’ Nutrition Month events up folks’ health awareness

By Rachel B. Cobcobo

BAGUIO CITY--The Cordillera Center for Health and Development called for unity among Filipinos to improve nutrition in the country during launching of the 35th Nutrition Month celebration on July 5 here at Plaza Lodge, South Drive. 
    Themed “New Normal Na Nutrisyon, Sama-samang Gawan ng Solusyon!” the program opened with a motorcade from Session Road to South Drive to raise awareness among the public about the month-long celebration. 
    In the official publication of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the celebration aimed to call for collective action from sectors of society to take part in building resilience as the country transitions to adapting living conditions with the Covid-19 virus. 
    These actions include policy-making, cascading and promoting advocacies of government agencies and the private sector and improvement of home food production during the pandemic, all of which may result in preventing spread of viruses.
    Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, Assistant Director of the Dept. of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region said, “Good health and good nutrition must not be taken for granted”. 
    “Not even Covid-19 can stop us from taking steps towards addressing malnutrition in our country. As guided by the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, we should always be active in seeking solutions in the performance of our mandate to educate everyone about the importance of a healthy diet to overall wellness,” Pangilinan said.
She added the DOH recently issued administrative order 21-0039 which aims to rid the country of “trans-fat” by 2023.
    Pangilinan added high intake of this “worst type of fat” contributes to cardiovascular diseases.
    DOH Central Office personnel, particularly from the Health Promotion Bureau joined the opening program to end their HPBisita activity in the region where Norma Thea Madeline Conjares shared an overview of the HPB programs. 
    Meanwhile, Patrick Pineda, Health Education and Promotion Officer III, CHD-CAR earlier invited the public to participate in the activities of the DOH-CHD-CAR and NNC – CAR “Move more, Eat Right para sa isang Healthy Cordillera” program. 
    Activities held were virtual Nutrition Month Webinar Series in Abra, Blended Education on Nutrition Education and Nutrition Month Quiz through radio broadcast and Nutrition Month Caravan held yesterday.
    The Cordillera Nutrisong Contest 2022 which started July 4 will end on the 29th.
    Events for this week (July 25 to 28) are the virtual Tiktok Video Nutri Challenge and more activities from July 26 to 27by CHD-CAR in Baguio City.
    A “Kapihan” forum was held earlier with Dr. Pangilinan, Norma Thea Madeline Conjares of DOH – HPB; Bella Basalong, NNC-CAR; Candice Salingbay, CHD-CAR, DA-CAR; Charles Picpican, DA-CAR; and Joel Junsay, HSO-Baguio City.
    The program culminated with food presentation demo by Johanna Bacog and Rose Ann Teodore from the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics department of the Benguet State University.