Good Nutrition Begins in the Family – DOH

Iloilo City (PIA)—The Department of Health-6 said it is in the family where good nutrition and healthy lifestyle begin.

DOH-6 Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said any effort at making children and other members of the family healthy is always attributed to how they are brought up and trained in the family.

“This follows also that what and how food is prepared for the family determines the growth of each one, especially children,” Convocar said, during the Regional Nutrition Awarding recently.

She told the health and nutrition workers that many of the stunting and wasting among children were traced to have begun in the nutrition practices at home.

She added that besides obesity, stunting and wasting among children are rising cases of malnutrition in many parts of the country based on the latest surveys on nutrition situation.

“We, the health and Barangay Nutrition Scholars should be models of good nutrition, starting with our families, not only with the communities we serve,” she added.

Convocar said that while BNSs and nutrition action officers are teaching good nutrition, they themselves should manifest change in behaviour as far as nutrition practices are concerned.

“We have the “10 Kumainments” to guide us,” she said.

The DOH, being chair of the Regional Nutrition Committee, has worked actively with the NNC, to intensify advocacy for the adoption of the “10 Kumainments” to reach every family.

Meanwhile, Covocar said, their immediate thrust now is to campaign for good nutrition at the first 1,000 days of the child, starting from conception, which encourages families to prepare nutritious foods even for pregnant women, and follow this with habits and practices that promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

“The family is a great influence even in the eating habits of its members, especially children, as this is where undernutrition, stunting and wasting start,” Convocar said.

NNC -6 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Nona Tad-y said the Nutrition Month celebration for 2016 will revolve on the 1,000 and she invited the BNSs and other partners to try conceptualizing the possible theme for the celebration. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)