LUBAO, PAMPANGA–In a bid to combat micronutrient deficiency (MND), the local government unit here, in cooperation with a non-government organization, held a seminar workshop among rural health midwives, barangay nutrition scholars and barangay health workers on November 3, 2017 at the St. Augustine Parish Hall here.
Rita Rose Magsino, Lubao municipal nutrition action officer, said the seminar-workshop was dubbed “Operation TIBAY or Tamang Nutrisyon Ibigay sa Barangay at ating Pagyamanin” and was made possible with the support of Team On Ground Inc., an NGO that advocates proper education on MND and how to combat it.
The advocacy program seeks to teach sound nutrition in communities, which the group calls “camps.” Lubao was the first of these camps to be visited by the project proponents.
Micronutrients refer to essential minerals that the body needs to generate energy such as Iron, Zinc and Vitamin C.
Babylyn Cayabyab, Head Camp Master, revealed that four out of five school children suffer from iron-deficiency; three out of 10 from zinc-deficiency; and, seven out 10 from Vitamin C-deficiency.
She said that a child suffering from such deficiencies is usually frail and sickly.
Cayabyab said the only way to fight these deficiencies is thru proper nutrition.
“Operasyon: Tibay”, she added, is their group’s response to the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations which seeks to address different types of malnutrition in different countries.
Lubao Councilor Carlos Y. Carlos II, chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Health, represented Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab in the event.
Carlos discussed about the LGU’s roles in developing programs to address health issues such as MND and malnutrition in the community.
Dr. Reynaldo Alipio, rural health unit 3 physician of Lubao; Joiada Faith Racaza, a nutritionist; Lilian Manalili, psychologist; and Chef Rodel Llido were among the speakers during the program.
The participants, numbering to 103 individuals, were given flipcharts on MND, cooking starter kits and recipe booklets.