BAGUIO CITY August 21 – A member of the Board of Directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) challenged mothers to take the lead in looking after the good nutrition of their children while they are still young to guarantee that they will be healthy when they grow old and become responsible and dedicated citizens of the community.
Speaking before the graduation of 16 mothers for barangay Balsigan’s own version of Pabasa and nutrition class, James B. Aclopen, BENECO District II Director, said it is the responsibility of parents, especially mothers, to look after the nutrition of their children by serving them the right kind of food while they are young so that they will learn to value the importance of good nutrition and healthy lifestyle as they mature.
“We challenge our parents to be role models of our children in observing good nutrition so that we will encounter health problems of our kids in the future. Let us not allow them to be exposed to the evils of our society, particularly junk foods, so that they will also take the lead in showing the example to their fellow children when they go to formal classes,” Aclopen told the graduates.
The Pabasa and Nutrition Class is one of the major activities lined up by the barangay council of Balsigan led by punong barangay Dolores Mang-usan as part of the culminating activities for the month-long celebration of Nutrition Month with the theme “Timbang Iwasto sa Tamang Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo.”
Aclopen cited the case of malnutrition, particularly underweight and overweight, among pre-schoolchildren, schoolchildren, adolescents and adults are alarming that is why parents should take the lead in managing the nutritional status of their children while they are young to avoid being included in the list of malnourished.
He also encouraged barangay officials, teachers and school officials to make sure that canteens in schools are no longer selling junk foods but instead nutritious foods so that the good nutrition of children will be maintained and even enhanced for the benefit of better growth.
According to Director Aclopen, nutrition is one of the most neglected issues of the community but the same should start in the homes before expanding to the community.
If children are taught the proper nutrition while they are young, Aclopen said there will be no problem in the nutritional status when they grow old and nutrition will no longer be a major problem of government.
The BENECO official appealed to all concerned to value the importance of nutrition in their daily lives because eating the right kind of food will keep them healthy and that they always become productive citizens of the community in the future.
