Pangasinan to focus on first 1,000 days of a child
- Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=902150
- Thursday, July 7, 2016
- (PNA), RMA/LVM/LVMICUA/1900/RMA
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 7 (PNA)--The provincial government through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is set to promote healthy lifestyle among Pangasinenses through a program that will focus on the first 1,000 days of a child.
The first 1,000 days refers to the day of conception of a child until he or she reaches the age of two, said Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman.
In connection with the current Nutrition Month this July, De Guzman urged mothers to provide the needed nutrients to their offspring that can best be derived from their breastmilk.
The provincial health officer also reported that the provincial government, led by former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.-- now 5th district representative--conducted a province-wide Operation Timbang in various schools in order to monitor malnutrition rate in the province.
Based on the data gathered from the project, malnutrition rate among school children in 2015 was at 2.46 percent. However, statistics improved in 2016 with lower malnutrition rate of 1.74 percent.
De Guzman added the new provincial administration Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III was keen on lowering further the malnutrition rate in the years to come.
The result of the previous Operation Timbang conducted by the PHO also revealed the five healthiest towns in Pangasinan, namely: San Jacinto, Sta. Maria, Sual, Infanta and Basista.
Meanwhile, PHO stressed that several activities would highlight this year’s nutrition month celebration.
De Guzman said a month-long harmonized schedule and combined mass administration of medicines, specifically on deworming, will be conducted in the entire month of July.
Target recipients are the pre-schoolers aged 1 to 4 years, and school aged children whose age ranges from 5 to 14 and 15 to 18 years old, as well.
Another activity is the Buntis Congress which will be held on July 13 in Villasis town where 200 pregnant women will be provided with nutrition counseling on infant and young child feeding.
Training for barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, midwives and parent leaders will also be held on July 11 to 15 in the towns of Umingan, Mangatarem and Bayambang.
In cooperation with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), the PHO has set aside a day for provincial employees under the provincial government’s health and wellness program to undergo nutrition counseling and cooking demonstration on July 27 at the Alley Bldg. located in Narciso Ramos Sports Complex.
The theme for the 2016 nutrition month celebration is “First 1,000 days ni Baby Pahalagahan, Para sa Malusog Kinabukasan.”