Activities for Nutrition Month celebration in Samar set

By ELI C. DALUMPINES, (PIA Samar)
July 10, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  It’s all systems go here for the celebration of the 32nd Nutrition Month as schedule of activities has already been set by the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC).

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Ms. Alva Gadin confirmed this in a radio interview over DYMS-Aksyon Radyo Thursday morning during “Huruhimangraw”, a weekly radio program sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Gadin informed that among the activities the PNC has set in line with the celebration was the conduct of school tours in the different schools here to assess whether or not nutrition topics have already been integrated in science and other related subjects.

One of the issues that the health and nutrition authorities raised in the past was that nutrition concerns were oftentimes overlooked in schools due to the overemphasis in the teaching of pure sciences to children and the lack of competent teachers to handle said subjects.

Lately, however, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed willingness to give them focus in the school curriculum in response to the rising problem of malnutrition in the country.

This year’s theme “Kumain ng Right para bata’y maging Bright” aims to stress proper nutrition to school children, which is the focus for the 32nd Nutrition Month celebration, Gadin noted.

Gadin urged teachers to always give strong emphasis to proper nutrition in the classroom as this is one of the determining factors in the academic performance of children.

She likewise reminded the parents to be a model to their children by promoting highly nutritious food in their homes, not to mention the promotion of good health practices that their children can emulate.

PNC will also promote the National Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) in schools so that students and teachers will have better grasp of the nutrition issues and concerns, Gadin further informed.

The celebration kicked off here Monday with the launching of the Nutrition Day program at Samar’s capital which was attended by the capital town’s officials.