Tebow CURE Celebrates Nutrition Month by Providing Nutrition Education
Nutrition Month is celebrated every July in the Philippines. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of proper nutrition for the overall health and well-being of Filipinos—especially for children.
During a streamed DOH Media forum, top undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH), Maria Rosario Vergeire, reported alarming statistics. She stated that 12.3 percent of children aged zero to 23 months are underweight.
Among the most vulnerable are infants born with cleft lip and cleft palate. This birth defect results in a gap in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate), or both. Due to the structural abnormalities of their mouths, children with clefts face unique challenges in breastfeeding and feeding, which result in inadequate nutrient intake and hinder their growth and development.
A study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Smile Train in 2022 revealed that nearly 200,000 children with clefts were malnourished, with most of them residing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions to combat malnutrition among this vulnerable population.
At Tebow CURE, we are committed to provide comprehensive cleft care, which entails supporting parents from the start to the finish of their child’s healing journey. This commitment drives us to collaborate with organizations like Smile Train, ensuring that parents are equipped with the necessary skills, insights, and information to effectively care for their children throughout the entire journey— from pre-treatment to post-treatment. To address the pressing national concern about nutrition, Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital (Tebow CURE) conducted a seminar on August 28, 2023, through a grant funded by Smile Train Philippines.
The event served as a wrap-up for Cleft Awareness Month and the celebration of the 49th Nutrition Month. Parents from various areas in Davao del Sur whose children had cleft conditions and nutrition concerns were invited to participate.
Nutritionist/Dietician Aprilyn Orquita was a featured speaker at the seminar, where she shared valuable insights on proper diet and nutrition. The theme for the 49th Nutrition Month, “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All” (Healthy Diet, Let’s Make It Affordable for All), was discussed, focusing on healthy diet recommendations, challenges in affordability, and practical tips for caretakers on providing affordable diets for their children.
