The NNC Technical Committee approved the theme for this year’s Nutrition Month celebration, “Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at malnutrisyon agapan!” on 26 March 2014 during the 2nd NNC TechCom meeting held at the Philippine Statistics Authority in Makati City. The theme stresses the importance of preparedness and prevention of hunger and malnutrition to minimize the impact of calamities and disasters. With the approval of the Nutrition Month theme, stakeholders especially local government units through the local nutrition committees are encouraged to plan for activities related to nutrition in emergency preparedness as these committees are also the local nutrition clusters.
Nutrition Month 2014 aims to: 1) promote interventions to address nutritional needs in emergencies and disasters including preparedness, response and recovery; 2) mobilize responders particularly the local nutrition clusters and stakeholders to address gaps in nutrition in emergencies response from national to barangay levels; and 3) 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.
The NNC conducted the Nutrition Month theme writing contest last 6-31 January 2014 which was opened to individual Filipino citizens - students, professionals, nutrition workers, barangay nutrition scholars, and others aged 12 years old and above. Ms. Desiree P. Reyes of Los Baños, Laguna submitted the winning theme selected from among the 304 entries received from all over the country. Ms. Reyes will receive Php10,000 as cash prize for her winning entry.
