The above picture shows (l to r) Engr. Marianito B. Bejemino-NFA Aklan, Provincial Manager, Banga Vice Mayor Joseph Pierre R. Teodosio, and Hon. Jean O. Rodriguez - SP member, and chair, Committee on Health Sector.
Banga Vice Mayor Joseph Pierre R. Teodosio is shown receiving Plaque of Appreciation from NFA Manager Marianito Bejemino with Ms. Judith Tindog.
National Food Authority (NFA) re-launched the I-Rice or iron fortified rice to dramatize to the people the importance of eating balanced diet and the problem of micronutrient deficiency.
The affair was held on Tuesday morning at Aguinaldo T. Repiedad, Sr. Integrated School, Linabuan Sur, Banga. It was attended by rice producers and traders, and local officials.
Banga Vice Mayor Joseph Pierre R. Teodosio spoke on the importance of eating a well balance meal. In her message, Hon. Jean O. Rodriguez, Health Sector Committee chair of Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan discussed major provincial legislations in nutrition the SP has approved and now being implemented.
Ms. May Jean D. Arcenio presented to the guests and visitors the nutrition program of the DepEd designed to enhance the teaching – learning process. In a combination of three languages, Akeanon, English and Pilipino, Ms. Crescini S. Roxas – nutritionist/dietician of the Provincial Health Office also presented the best practices they follow to improve the health of the people through proper nutrition.
Engr. Marianito B. Bejemino – NFA Aklan Provincial Manager acknowledged and thanked those present and who helped in the success of the re-launching program.
Iron Fortified Rice program to improve the people’s health via eating proper diet was started several years ago. However, its brilliance easily faded away. The NFA, being the prime mover of the grains industry re-launched it.
A large part of the population today suffers from hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiency, a leading nutritional disorder in the world.
Micronutrient deficiency refers to the lack of essential vitamins and trace minerals such as Vitamin A, Iron, Iodine, Zinc, and others. Inadequate intake of these micronutrients had been found to be major contributory factor for various health problems. This also resulted to increased rates of illness and deaths from infectious diseases and disability such as mental impairment.
Iron is one of the most important trace elements essential for many proteins and enzymes that keep the body in good shape. It is involved in many metabolic reactions and regulations of cell growth and differentiation. It is also involved in proper functioning of liver and helps in improving immune activity by protecting the body against harmful actions of free radicals.
Iron is part of hemoglobin that carries oxygen from lungs to the tissues, and carbon dioxide from tissue to the lungs. Hemoglobin gives the red color of the blood. It transports oxygen to different parts of the body, and is needed in the production of energy needed to do work.
Iron deficiency can lead to anemia when iron stored in the body gets depleted and hemoglobin synthesis is inhibited. It usually begins with negative iron balance when dietary iron intake does not meet the daily need for iron and develops gradually.
Studies show that iron deficiency anemia is responsible for 20 percent of early neonatal mortality and 10 percent of maternal mortality. It also reduces cognitive development and work performance.
Recognizing these threats and the increasing mortality rate brought about by micronutrient deficiency in the country, a law was passed by the legislative body in 2000 to address the alarming nutritional disorder.
Republic Act 8976 provides a great opportunity to recognize the role of fortification in laying the foundation of a healthy citizenry and ensuring economic growth. Food fortification is recognized as an effective and sustainable means to fight and eliminate micronutrient deficiency in the country because of its social acceptability and independence from consumers behavior and food habits. /MP
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