BAGUIO CITY – The presence of pro-nutrition leaders in all levels of governance will contribute in spurring development, a former official of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) said here recently.
Former NNC Deputy Executive Director Rita Papey rallied barangay nutrition scholars, barangay nutrition action officers and municipal nutrition action officers to convert their respective leaders to be pro-nutrition so that local governments will be able to provide bigger allocations for the sustainable implementation of various nutrition programs in their respective communities.
She pointed out that local leaders, especially barangay officials and municipal and city mayors, should be able to understand and internalize the direct link between good nutrition because with good nutrition, there will be healthier people, lesser illnesses among the populace, happier electorate, happier people who will be able to contribute in increased productive activities that will enhance the economic activities in their areas of jurisdiction.
Papey, who served as the former NNC-CAR regional nutrition program coordinator before being promoted to the central office, was the guest of honor and speaker during the launching of this year’s nutrition month celebration.
The former NNC-CAR deputy chief claimed that nutrition action officers on the ground play a key role in convincing their leaders to provide a substantial budget for the sustainable implementation of nutrition programs and projects because it will serve as one of the game changers in their communities once the population will be healthy.
According to him, malnutrition among children aged 0-59 months is still prevalent because of the high incidents of stunting, wasting, underweight among others that is why local officials must also invest in nutrition initiatives that will surely make a difference in their communities in the future.
She challenged the nutrition action officers to be creative in finding ways to convince their respective local officials to fully support nutrition initiatives by providing the needed funds to effectively and efficiently roll out the same to guarantee a healthy community.
Nutrition advocates and concerned sectors supported the call of the former NNC official stating that development is not only through the implementation of infrastructure projects but also to provide funding for major health and nutrition initiatives that will ensure healthy children for them to become productive citizens of the country once they mature as adults and become productive through gainful employment among others.
Nutrition is always one of the noble programs and initiatives that are often left out by numerous local governments in the allocation of funds for their annual budgets because priority is always given to infrastructure which is the ‘milking cow’ of politicians for them to sustain their reign in power due to alleged patronage politics which is being rammed on the throats of the people, especially when the conduct of election is just around the corner. By Dexter A. See
