2009 Nutrition Month Celebration

Lingayen- - - Series of activities for the 2009 Nutrition Month Celebration slated this July has been lined up to increase awareness among Pangasinenses on the importance of good health and proper hygiene as depicted on its theme, “Wastong nutrisyon kailangan, healthy lifestyle diseases iwasan.”
Milagros A. Gutierrez,PHO Nutritionist Dietitian II, said that the month-long event kicked off last June 30 via a four-day Training on LGU Localization Technical Guidelines in Implementing the Asin Law (RA 8172) at the President Hotel here which is participated by the Provincial Task Force and Municipal Task Force of Mangaldan, Dasol and Infanta.
This, she said, aims to educate Pangasinenses especially those at the grassroots on the importance of using iodized salt and its various health benefits.
It will be recalled that the Asin Law was passed in 1995 requiring all producers or manufacturers of food- grade salt to fortify or iodize their products to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in the country particularly iodine deficiency disorders.
Gutierrez added that micronutrient malnutrition is a disorder resulting from deficiencies in vitamin A, iron, iodine which the body needs everyday while iodine deficiency disorder manifests from lack of iodine in the diet that leads to the reduction of intellectual and physical capacity which can result to goiter, mental retardation or defects and cretinism.
Other activities for the nutrition month include health education class and food assistance program targeting underweight preschoolers, promotion of good oral health especially toothbrushing ,and deworming of all public elementary school pupils throughout the province. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)