By Miriam P. Aquino, PIA, La Union
SAN FERNANDO CITY – Serving some 118 pregnant and lactating mothers from San Gabriel, La Union was the highlight of the regional kick-off ceremony of the 42nd National Nutrition Month celebration this July.
This year’s celebration is anchored with the theme “First 1000 Days ni baby pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan.”
During the launching ceremony, the National Nutrition Council brought to the beneficiaries different services like nutrition assessment and counselling, pre-natal check-up and dental services at their very doorstep.
San Gabriel town, an indigenous people’s community, was chosen to be the launching pad of the annual celebration to revive its unsustained nutrition awards.
In his brief lecture, Nutrition Officer III Kendall A. Gatan of NNC-1 underscored the significance oft the first 1,000 days of a child, starting from the first day of conception until he reaches his second birthday.
“The first 1,000 days of a child are the crucial days as it is globally considered as the ‘golden window of opportunity’ for interven-tions that aim to achieve maximum potential of a child’s growth and develop-ment,” Gatan said.
Games and surprises were also provided for the beneficiaries during the event launch.
Meanwhile, a part of the Nutrition Month celebration was the launching of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Intervention Package Program on July 14 at the Don Leopoldo Sison Convention Center in Alaminos City, Pangasinan.
The activity is organized by the Regional Organization of Nutrition Development Advocates 1, Inc. and KBP-Pangasinan Chapter.
ECCD, a three-year program, is another intervention aimed to provide health and nutrition services to pregnant women, infants and young children children aged zero to 23 months.
“The project focuses on the first 1000 days or the period of pregnancy which is for 270 days up to the first two years of life (730 days),” Ma. Eileen C. Blanco, NNC regional nutrition program coordinator, said.#
