NNC-7 launches 2021 Nutrition Month with advocacy focus on 1st 1000 days of child’s life

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

 CEBU CITY – The National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) in the region virtually launched the 2021 Nutrition Month (NM) in July with advocacy focus on the 1^st 1000 days of the child’s life as the most critical window of opportunity for nutrition and health interventions in raising taller generations of Filipino children.

NNC-7 regional director Dr. Parolita Mission said in a virtual media briefing/launch on June 18 that in Central Visayas alone, malnutrition prevalence may have decreased but the magnitude of those that are affected is still relatively high, particularly, those who are stunted or chronically malnourished at about 10.1 percent or 60,819 children 0-59 months from all over the region in 2020.

 An NNC message recall survey in 2021 also showed that there is very limited awareness of the first 1000 days strategy at only 12 percent in Central Visayas.

“This is a crucial stage for children’s development affecting the cognitive/brain growth.  The 1^st 1000 days starting from 270 days pregnancy stage; 180 days for exclusive breastfeeding for the infants and 550 days for older stage infancy and toddlerhood determine the irreversible impact of stunting and brain mass growth,” Mission said.

The theme, “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 Days tutukan!  is also an answer to the limited awareness of the first 1000 days strategy which includes health and nutrition interventions for pregnant women, lactating women, and children 0-23 months.

Mission said that the annual campaign aims to increase understanding of the First1000 Days of Life strategy and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) as overall framework to facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders for scaled up interventions to fight malnutrition and engaging and generate interactions and from stakeholders about nutrition.

NNC-7 has lined up a variety of activities to promote the first 1000 in July starting off with an online launching activity on the first of July aiming to reach out to nutrition service providers, partners and stakeholders and discuss the importance of providing health and nutrition services for pregnant women and their babies as well as showcase commitment or local chief executives in the implementation of RA 11148.

The half day activity scheduled in the afternoon will start off with the 2021 Nutrition Month Prayer and features talks and inspirational messages by members of the Regional Nutrition Committee.

It will also serve as venue for the launching of the nutrition networks’ nutrition month special project including the DocuNanay (for pregnant women) by the Nutrition Program Coordinators’ Association of Region 7 Inc.  Nutri Jingle Contest featuring breastfeeding by the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ Association 7 Inc., and CompleTips vlogs for complementary feeding by the Central Visayas Association of Nutrition Action Officers Inc.

Other highlights of the launching event will be the announcement of the “First 1000 Days Tiktok Challenge” Social Media campaign and the launching of the Nanay Nutrition School on Air (NSAO) program.