ILOILO – To promote food and nutrition security especially for the marginalized, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) will celebrate Nutrition Month 2023 with the theme “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All.”
Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Wendel Tupas-Marcelo said it would be held at the Iloilo provincial capitol lobby on July 10 with the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), or tumandoks.
Marcelo said the province came up with the sub-theme “Mga Katutubo, Sa Nutrition Kayo Ang Bida Ngayon.”
“I-highlight naton ang aton mga tumandok nga mga kautoran sa sina nga celebration,” he said.
Among the activities the IPHO prepared together with the Iloilo Provincial Nutrition Committee will be a cooking contest where IPs could showcase their recipes and, at the same time, be imparted with additional knowledge on nutritious food.
Representatives of the Panay-Bukidnon and Ati communities from the five congressional districts in Iloilo will be invited.
1st BNS Convention
On July 11 to 12, the IPHO and the Iloilo Provincial Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Federation will also have the very first BNS Convention at the Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo district.
At least 1,500 BNS around the province were expected to attend.
The convention aims to provide a venue for BNS to gather for capacity development, learning exchange, and networking and fellowship.
There will be a technical session on providing more effective nutrition services.
Among the topics to be discussed are: promoting mental health among BNS, practical tips on personality development and communication skills enhancement for BNS, inspiring BNS to take action in the community on preventing malnutrition, some inspiration on becoming nutrition champions, and a session on values formation and moral recovery.
“Tion man ini para magtipon-tipon, ma-fellowship, and networking kay sa bilog nga tuig ang aton BNS naga-obra gid para sa aton nutrition program,” said Marcelo.
The honored guests for the two-day convention will be representatives from different government agencies, such as the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. will be the keynote speaker.
The Nutrition Month celebration is enshrined in Presidential Decree 491 or Republic Act No. 1974, or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines, which mandates the National Nutrition Council to lead the campaign./PN
