COTABATO CITY—In line with the celebration of 49th National Nutrition Month, BARMM Health Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang urges the Bangsamoro community to embrace a healthy lifestyle by prioritizing nutritious food choices to combat diseases and address the issue of malnutrition effectively.
This year’s theme, “Healthy Diet Gawing (Make It) Affordable For All,” focuses on making healthy diets more accessible to improve the health and well-being of Filipinos.
In BARMM, the month-long celebration commenced with a fun run activity, bringing 350 runners who sprinted from Cotabato City Plaza to the Office of Chief Minister (OCM) Building at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) ground in this city on Monday, July 3.
“We encourage the parents and guardians to provide the right food for our children and the whole family,” Piang said.
“Remember, strong resistance is our primary weapon against any form of disease,” he added.
National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign observed every July, serves to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition among Filipinos.
National Nutrition Council (NNC), which spearheads the nationwide campaign, highlights the grave issue of malnutrition in the Philippines, with approximately one in three Filipino children under the age of five experiencing stunted growth, indicating their height is below the expected range for their age.
This condition, known as stunting, poses significant health risks, including compromised cognitive development and heightened susceptibility to chronic diseases in the future.
Minister Piang also invited the Bangsamoro constituents to participate in the different programs and activities prepared by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for this month aimed at attaining a healthier Bangsamoro.
The campaign further underscores the benefits of consuming diverse unprocessed or minimally processed foods, maintaining a balanced intake across food groups, and limiting the consumption of highly processed food and drink products.
It also encourages the establishment of family and community food gardens to serve as an additional source of food, while supporting local farmers by purchasing food from them. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from RNC-BARMM/MOH/BPDA)
