The Mandaluyong City local government provided goodie bags and food supplements to its underweight children, pregnant women, children with disabilities, and elderly as part of its expanded effort to curb malnutrition and other nutrition deficiency ailments.
(Photo from Mandaluyong LGU)
Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos, together with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Benhur Abalos and other city government executives and officials, led the program held at the city hall.
"Kabilang ito sa mga benepisyo na kanilang tinatanggap na bahagi sa pagdiriwang ng Nutrition Month ngayong Hulyo at alinsunod na rin sa Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) na naglalayong isulong ang sapat at wastong nutrisyon para sa lahat (This is part of the benefits they are receiving this July in accordance with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition aiming to promote proper nutrition for everyone)," the local government unit (LGU) said.
The PPAN, launched in September last year by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) under the Department of Health (DOH), a comprehensive blueprint designed to guide government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and the private sector in their coordinated efforts to reduce all forms of malnutrition.
The NNC said the new PPAN sets directions for food and nutrition policies and strategies intended for various stakeholders and duty-bearers from the government, NGOs, development partners, academe, the private sector, and local government units, and focuses primarily on addressing all forms of malnutrition with particular attention to stunting and wasting, overweight and obesity, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and micronutrient deficiencies.
“We want to prioritize nutrition and we want to be aligned with the present administration’s call and also with the president’s eight point socioeconomic agenda and also embrace the universal health care - DOH and at the same time other commitments international because we want to ensure the Filipinos will have to enjoy life having healthy and well-nourished citizen," said Undersecretary and Executive Director IV - National Nutrition Council Azucena Dayanghirang.
On June 11, Mandaluyong City created a large micronutrient-fortified cake shaped like the Philippine flag as part of its efforts in combatting malnutrition in the country and as part of the celebration of Independence Day on June 12.
The 8x16 feet cake, made by Barangay Malamig Chairperson Cynthia Caluya and her team, including Barangay Nutrition scholars, used 810 pieces of chocolate cake, carrot cake, and banana cake, all mixed with micronutrient powders (MNPs).