Event Geek

Students present in Support of the Nutrition Month Launch at SM Event Centre

The (NNC-7) National Nutrition Council 7, together with MIND-7~ Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development and partners launched yesterday the 2011 nutrition month with the theme "Isulong ang breastfeeding - tama. Sapat, at Eksklusibo" which encourages all sectors of society to help promote, protect, and support breastfeeding practices.

Lactation Stations in the workplace MOA was recently launched by Mandaue City and the Mandue Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) together with the National Nutrition Council for the establishment of lactation or breastfeeding stations in workplaces throughout Mandaue City in Support of the RA 10028: Expanded Breast Feeding Promotion Act of 2009!

Maria Flores, DOH Asst. SEc., Exec.Director IV NNC; Eric Ng Mendoza, MCCI President and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Present during the MOA Signing. Department of Health Assistant Secretary, Maria The MOA, the first of its kind in the entire Philippines and is a milestone for the nutrition and health industry. The MOA aims to have linkages with families, organizations and other stakeholders to give working mothers the chance to practice proper breastfeeding while at work.

Philippines is 1 of 42 countries that account for 90% of deaths of under 5 y.o globally. Breastfeeding ranks the most effective interventions to improve child's survival, adding that World Health Organization estimated that optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13% of 10.6 million deaths yearly. The MOA is geared towards "Private Public Partnership or PPP" that will ensure its effectiveness. Mandaue was Mayor Jonas Cortes supports the MOA in support of a mother-friendly community.

"We all need to acknowledge that we are part of the problem and that we are also part of the solution" -Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes

"Establishment of Lactation Stations in Workplace reduces Healthcare Costs and boosts Employee Moral & Retention"-Eric Ng Mendoza

The National Nutrition Council VII will launch the Breastfeeding Rally as the opening of the Nutrition Month 2011. There will also be a MOA Signing between NNC 7, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and the Local Government Unit of Mandaue on the setting up of breastfeeding stations in the workplace.

The Nutrition Month 2011 will also feature the following activities:

“BREASTFEEDING EVERYWHERE”

-Photo Exhibition Opening Ceremony (10:30 AM | Mosaic Area, Lower Ground Floor, SM City)
-MOA Signing and Press Conference (11:30 AM | Cabalen Restaurant, North Wing, SM City)
-Breastfeeding Rally (1:30 PM | SM Event Center)

A Nutrition advocacy group called (MIND-7: Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development for region 7) was recently launched and also had it's general assembly at Harold's Hotel, Cebu City. The Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development-VII presented their purpose and objective to create a media network that would help sustain efforts for nutrition advocacy and promotion.

Parolita Mission, NNC-7 director, revealed that this year’s Nutrition Month, which is in July, will revolve around the theme “Isulong ang breastfeeding. Tama. Sapat. Ekslusibo,” or in short “BF TSEk.” DYLA station manager Jun Tagalog stands as it's current president with the other officers showed series of activities that include a region-wide information campaign to promote breastfeeding, appropriate feeding, improve hygienic practices including proper hand washing, establishment of home gardens and Ten Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos and the like activities.

The newly created group is composed of legitimate media practitioners from print, television, radio, social media community with a mission to establish a regional information and documentation network to serve as a “vehicle to strengthen the flow of food and nutrition information” from the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the local government units and other government agencies and the nutrition network to the general public.

Aside from the launching, MIND-7 members representing Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental also ratified the Mind-7 Constitution and by-laws during the general assembly. There was also an oath-taking of its members.

New members of the organization also took their oath of membership in order to help implement a more aggressive and sustained nutrition awareness drive on exclusive breastfeeding. Follow MIND-7 and Nutrition Related activities via Facebook (Nutrition Advocates PH) and via Twitter @NutriAdvocates