The Department of Education (DepEd) encourages everyone to participate in the 2021 Nutrition Month celebration. Nutrition Month is an annual campaign held every July to create greater awareness among Filipinos on the importance of nutrition as provided under Presidential Decree 491, or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines that also mandates the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to lead and coordinate the nationwide campaign.

     The theme of the campaign for this year according to DepEd’s memorandum no. 035, series 2021, released on June 30 is “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 days tutukan!”, it calls for continued efforts to address malnutrition in the country which is expected to worsen as a result of the pandemic and limited resources for nutrition. It emphasizes the importance of good nutrition during the first 1000 days of the child’s life as the strategic intervention to prevent stunting and obesity.

     The celebration aims to raise awareness on the importance of the first 1000 days as a golden window of opportunity for a comprehensive package of nutrition and related interventions, to achieve proper nutrition and optimal child development; and advocate for interventions and services in the first 1000 days as mandated by Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act of 2018.

View the full memorandum here: https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DM_s2021_035.pdf

     As a way to be part of this celebration, the IMC provides a list of library material for our book of the month relevant to the theme of the celebration.

Here is our Book of the Month – July 2021 collection: