‘Good nutrition practices needed in the NMI’

The Fitial administration has declared the month of March as CNMI Nutrition Month to promote continuing education on the need for good nutrition practices in the CNMI.

In a proclamation signing held yesterday at the Governor’s Office on Capitol Hill, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, together with the Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez, asked the community to participate in this month’s celebration of healthier living.

Fitial said that good nutrition and physical activity are key components of a healthy lifestyle.

“Diet and physical activity are important in the prevention of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer,” he said.

The occasion was not without its lighter moments, with the governor provoking laughter in the crowd when he reminded them to “stay away from corned beef and Spam, especially today—it’s Ash Wednesday.”

Good nutrition practices and their impact would be the prime subject in this month’s celebration.

Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Service, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the Public School System Food and Nutrition Service, Ayuda Network, Inc. and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Child Care Licensing Program and the Nutrition Assistance Program will provide several nutrition education campaign.

NMC-CREES acting director Margaret Tudela, acting DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, acting DCCA Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier, NAP director Walter Macaranas, PSS administrative officer Dorin Salas, and officers and members of the private organizations attended the proclamation signing.

NMC-CREES program officer Patricia Coleman, who presided over the event, reminded the crowd to disseminate the words to the CNMI public about good eating habits for a “healthier CNMI.”

Through the Nutrition Month, she said the public would once again be reminded of their responsibility to their body in preventing diseases such as diabetes, heart and lifestyle related diseases.

She invited the public to a Nutrition Fair that would be held at the Koblerville field on March 11. She said that, based on research, community members in Koblerville showed a higher health risk on Saipan.

There will be cooking demonstrations, nutrition education and physical activity workshops this month. There will also be school and college presentations and other activities to further educate the CNMI community.