Nutrition Month activities set

THE Zamboanga City Government through the City Health Office has lined up several activities for this year’s Nutrition Month celebration.

City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said the Nutrition Month celebration will kick off on July 10 with a motorcade around the main thoroughfares of the city.

This year’s theme is “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain.”

Agbulos said the theme focuses on the importance of vegetable in healthy diet, to address micronutrient deficiency and prevent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Agbulos said studies show that majority of Filipinos eat vegetables every day as the average household vegetable consumption has increased from 145 grams per day in 1978 to 410 grams per day in recent years, although there are still some who do not include vegetables in their daily diets.

Nutrition Month is observed every July of each year pursuant to Presidential Decree 491, in a bid to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choice and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

Meanwhile, Agbulos said the city is also observing this July the 2012 National Disaster Consciousness Month.

The observance is anchored on the theme “Ligtas na bayan, maunlad na pamayanan (Safe town, prosperous community).”

Agbulos said that as far as disaster preparedness is concerned, the City Government has a 24-hour standby or on-call emergency ambulance.

The observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month officially reeled off with a motorcade on Monday morning.

Activities are also lined up in coordination with the Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga City chapter and other stakeholders, including the academe sector. (Bong Garcia)