Tangub to conduct baseline nutrition assessment of schoolchildren in July

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

Friday 29th of June 2012

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental, June 29 (PIA) -- A mass weighing and height monitoring for the nutritional assessment of all school children, in both elementary and secondary levels, will be conducted by the Tangub City Division in July this year.

This is in collaboration with the Health and Nutrition Unit of the Department of Education (DepEd) in order to come up with a baseline nutritional assessment of schoolchildren for school year 2012-2013, according to Carmencita S. Cotapte, schools division superintendent.

In her memorandum to all the school heads, Cotapte has directed all the selected trained school personnel of the World Health Organization-Child Growth Standards to take charge of such activity within the division next month.

Data to be gathered will include the pupil’s weight and body mass index to see if the pupil is severely wasted, wasted, normal, overweight and obese, she said.

Dr. Luz S. Almeda, regional director of DepEd-10, said July is designated as Nutrition Month to create greater awareness among the Filipinos on the importance of nutrition, focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, pursuant to Sec. 7 of Presidential Decree 411.

With this year’s theme of “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain,” all schools are enjoined to participate in the month-long celebration by undertaking meaningful activities that will highlight the importance of eating vegetables everyday.

She said that suggested activities for the month include the launching program during the flag ceremony, featuring nutrition articles and information on bulletin boards and conducting nutrition lectures and forum, jingle competition and slogans, essay-writing, poster-making and cooking contests depicting the theme.

On the other hand, Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said the National Nutrition Council leads the whole nation in the celebration of the Nutrition Month, purposely to disseminate nutrition messages to all Filipinos and this year’s focus is on the promotion of vegetables and its nutritional benefits.

For its launching event, the Nutritional Month Celebration will feature vegetable gardening in schools to emphasize the importance of eating vegetables as part of the healthy diet.

Thus, all public elementary and secondary schools, including its teaching and non-teaching personnel are encouraged to conduct simultaneous vegetable gardening through the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” Project, this coming July 2.

They are also encouraged to participate in other activities that will promote vegetable consumption and production in schools and highlight poverty reduction, food security, bio-diversity conservation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation, such as tree-planting and tree-growing activities, among others, Secretary Luistro added. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)