In line with the celebration of Nutrition Month this July, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognises the region-wide campaign of National Nutrition Council-7 (NNC-7), together with local government units (LGUs), in launching programmes that aim to target the problem of malnutrition in Central Visayas. This joint initiative has special focus on the first 1,000 days or 2 years and 7 months of a child’s life.

The Commission also notes the adoption of the NNC-7 of the United Nation’s movement called Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) network at the regional level, which engages all sectors of local governments in efforts to improve nutrition.

We support the LGUs’ feeding programs for children; provision of services and monitoring of pregnant residents; and awareness campaigns on breastfeeding to combat malnutrition. Likewise, we commend the advocacy of the LGUs to raise the understanding of the public on the importance of Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act and the recognition of the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition as the overall framework in addressing malnutrition in the country.

As the national human rights institution, the CHR asserts that it is the State’s primary obligation to promote the human rights to adequate food, health, nutritional well-being and care for the vulnerable. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, nutrition is the foundation of a life of equality, dignity and human rights, indivisibly linked to the realisation of an adequate standard of living and the highest attainable standard of health. ###