On July 31, 2023, the Municipality of Quinapondan joins the 49th Nutrition Month Celebration themed “Healthy Diet, Gawing Affordable for All!” facilitated by the Rural Health Unit of Quinapondan, Eastern Samar headed by Doctor Jener S. Camposano and spearheaded by the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO)-Designate Ma’am Flordelisa Longatang by promoting a healthy lifestyle thru serving nutritious food in the table. Here is an excerpt of the message given by the Municipal Mayor, Atty. Rafael S. Asebias during his speech from the program.
“Good morning everyone! Nutrition Month is an Annual campaign held every July to create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos. Today we are having the Culmination Day of the Nutrition Month Celebration with a theme “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All!”. A healthy diet, which is part of a healthy lifestyle, is the foundation of good health. It is a diet that is able to satisfy one’s energy and nutrients needs for proper body functions, growth and development, daily activities and maintenance of health, keeping well within one’s caloric needs.”
“Previous days we conducted different activities to highlight the importance of nutrition. The reality is that, the world is facing multiple health challenges. These range from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, increasing reports of drug-resistant pathogens, growing rates of obesity, and the health impacts of environmental pollution, climate change and multiple humanitarian crisis. To address these threats to human health, the government has developed different strategies notable of which is the strong advocacy on proper nutrition and universal health care coverage for every Filipino.”
“On Nutrition, the government embarked on specific programs, like Gulayan sa Paaralan, Hapag-Kainan, seeds distribution, etc., in order to re-enkindle the awareness of the common people to practice once again backyard gardening to plant vegetables which are rich in nutrients, like squash, okra, kangkong, petchay, malunggay and many more which are easy to plant and grow, and of course to eat these vegetables. These plants not only keep our bodies free from diseases but also tremendously enhance our whole health system, including mental health. And not only our health system will improve but also the economic aspect in some way. If we have backyard garden of vegetables, then we will no longer be buying those vegetables from the market. So we can somehow reduce our daily expenditures and do some savings.”
The benefits of healthy bodies are tremendous. Diseases can be avoided, including mental depression, thus save huge amount for hospitalization. Students can study well, thus excel in schools, and at the long run can finish a course and later on find a job, and be of help to their families. That is why your LGU continues to remind our people to make backyard gardening a life habit and eating those vegetables a lifestyle in order to assure a healthy and happy families. A healthy family means a healthy and happy community; and a happy and healthy community means a peaceful and progressive society.”
Thank you and God bless us all.
The culminating was a success and prizes are given to different winners of the games facilitated by the the Rural Health Unit of Quinapondan.