Healthiest, breastfed baby contest highlights nutrition month celebration in Gen MacArthur town

By NINFA B QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
July 26, 2011

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  To focus on the nutrition month theme, Gen MacArthur town in Eastern Samar staged a contest on the healthiest, breastfed baby from nine to 12 months old. This was bared by Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Grace Cardona in a phone interview.

This year’s Nutrition Month theme is “Isulong ang Breastfeeding, Tama, Sapat at Ekslusibo”.

Cardona said that the baby must have been exclusively breastfed from birth to six moths, must be fully immunized, must have availed of Garantisadong Pambata health services, must have been born in a health facility and must bear the ideal weight in accordance to his age and growth and development must have coincided with his milestones.

Mayor Jaime Ty is shelling out a thousand pesos for the winning baby.

This baby with his mom will be awarded tomorrow as the municipality holds its Nutrition Month culminating activity.

As for the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, a contest with the most productive garden is also on, the MNAO added.

Criteria include area, members, fruits/ veggies sold and its maintenance and sustainability, said the MNAO.

“There are 17 barangays that are vying for this title, coinciding with the number of barangay beneficiaries of 4Ps,” Cardona said.

Other contests include slogan and poster contest for preschoolers after the parade.

In the afternoon, a symposium on breastfeeding for pregnant mothers will be held also, Cardona said.

“Gen MacArthur is one of the best implementers of the nutrition program as it has recorded 7.16% children 0-5 years old that are considered malnourished,” said Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Sally Jabinal.

Meanwhile, the towns of Jipapad, San Julian and Dolores are the top three municipalities with high rates of malnutrition, according to PNAO records.