Nutrition council to mitigate hunger

Saturday, January 21, 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The National Nutrition Council presented a solution early this week to mitigate hunger and improve nutrition in Central Luzon.

Regional partners and Provincial Nutrition Action Officers (PNAOs) collaborated in line with the Special Hunger Alleviation and Improve Nutrition (HAIN) Program for implementation in the disaster-stricken areas of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in the region.

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The program HAIN aims to reduce hunger and improve the nutrition situation in the province.

According to NNC Regional Director Maria Vicenta Magpantay, the objectives of the program are: to reduce the prevalence of underweight-for-age among children zero to eight years old; to prevent stunting among children six months to two years old; to improve food intake in participating households; to increase income opportunities among target households; and improve knowledge and practice of key health and nutrition concepts and behavior.

She added that the program is divided into two components, core components or direct or consumptive and complementary components or indirect.

Core components includes hot meals or dry ration and rice distribution, while complementary components consists of health services, nutrition education and counseling, home, school, and community food production, livelihood, employment, and infrastructure support.

To be able to fully achieve the aims of HAIN, there will be consultation with the local government units to identify the number of prioritized municipalities and barangays.

The said post-disaster response is targeted to start by middle of February this year.