NUTRITION MONTH CELEBRATION

http://www.nnc.gov.ph/downloads/2016-nutrition-month-materials/send/103-2016-nutrition-month-materials/919-2016-nutrition-month-talking-points

What are the key messages of 2016 Nutrition Month?

a. Good nutrition in the First 1000 Days of life prepares the child for better quality of life in his/her lifetime.

b. Multisectoral, evidence-based interventions that aim to prevent undernutrition, particularly stunting, and overnutrition and delay the onset of noncommunicable diseases should focus on the First 1000 Days of life.

c. Promote and support good maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy, and lactation.

d. Promote, support and protect exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.

e. Give appropriate complementary feeding to babies starting at 6 months while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond.

f. Scale up nutrition actions both at the national and local levels.

What is the First 1000 Days of life?

The First 1000 Days is the period between conception until the child’s 2nd birthday. The 1000 days comprise 270 days of pregnancy, 365 days for the first year of life of the child and another 365 days for the 2nd year of his/her life. The First 1000 Days is the period of rapid growth where nutrient deficiencies can have long-term consequences. Good nutrition during this period can help maximize the child’s ability to grow, learn and develop that has profound effect in his/her health, wellbeing and success later on in adulthood. The quality of nutrition during the First 1000 Days can have a significant impact on the achievement of national and global development goals.

What is Nutrition Month (NM)?

Nutrition Month is the annual campaign held every July to create greater awareness on

nutrition among Filipinos. It is mandated under Presidential Decree 491 or the Nutrition

Act of the Philippines. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) coordinates the nationwide

campaign including the identification of an annual theme to focus on a priority nutrition

concern.

What is the theme for 2014?

The 40th Nutrition Month campaign focuses on nutrition in emergencies with the theme

“Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at malnutrisyon agapan!” (Prepare for emergencies

to prevent hunger and malnutrition!) The focus on nutrition in emergencies aims to

provide the venue for the general public to realize the importance of preparedness during

emergencies, how to respond and what recovery measures can be taken to

prevent death and worsening of malnutrition of affected population groups.

The objectives of this year’s campaign are to:

a. promote interventions to address nutritional needs in emergencies and disasters

including preparedness, response and recovery;

b. mobilize responders particularly the local nutrition clusters and other

stakeholders to address gaps in nutrition in emergency response from national

to barangay levels; and,

c. increase awareness among families and individuals on coping and resiliency

strategies to prevent malnutrition and worsening of nutritional status in times of

emergencies and disasters.