Surigao Norte, Surigao City, Dinagat Islands
ready for typhoon Pablo
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- The local Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat
Islands and this city have already set-up their command operation center on
24/7 basis in preparation for typhoon Pablo.
Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas, Surigao del
Norte Gov. Sol Matugas and Dinagat Islands Governor Glenda B. Ecleo made the
announcement thru their respective DRRMC coordinators as Typhoon Pablo is
threatening the area based from the latest forecast from the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as of
noontime today.
Just this morning, the three local DRRMCs
announced the cancellation of classes in all levels and suspension of work in
all government and private offices in Surigao del Norte, Surigao City and
Dinagat Islands in preparation of the coming typhoon that expected to make
landfall tomorrow morning, Dec. 4, 2012 in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas are
alerted to take precautionary measures for possible flashfloods and landslides.
The local DRRMCs has also warned small sea
crafts not to venture out to sea until the storm signal will be lifted by
PAGASA.
Meanwhile, local officials of this province and
chairman of the provincial and city disaster risk reduction and management
councils have assured the public that safety precautionary measures and
preparedness are already in place to meets its target of zero casualty.
(SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Feature: Multiple micronutrient supplement for
pregnant mothers more beneficial
By Celina Ann Z. Javier
The outcome of pregnancy is highly dependent on
the health status of the mother.
The 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food
and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST) in 2008 found that 26.3 percent of pregnant women are
nutritionally-at-risk for delivering infants with low birth weight.
Moreover, the prevalence rate of anemia among
pregnant women is 42.5 percent and 9.5 percent for Vitamin A deficiency, the
survey also disclosed.
This high rate of undernourished pregnant women
translates to high rate of undernourished babies.
One of the effective strategies in uplifting the
nutritional status of pregnant women is micronutrient supplementation.
At present, pregnant women benefit from the
iron, vitamin A and iodine supplementation programs of the government.
Based on the results of the 7th NNS, 34.3
percent of pregnant women received iron supplementation while, 6.6 percent got
vitamin A supplementation and only 2.9 percent benefited from iodine
supplementation.
Interventions are always focused on these
single-nutrient supplementations, but multiple nutrient supplementations can
also be given to pregnant women due to their additional nutrient requirements.
At present, there are no local studies showing
the effects of multiple micronutrient supplementations on the health status of
pregnant women.
The FNRI-DOST looked into the benefits of
multiple micronutrient supplementation composed of iron, vitamin A, vitamin B2,
folate and zinc to anemic pregnant women instead of just giving a single
nutrient.
In the study, three groups of anemic pregnant
women received three different nutrient supplementations, namely, the
multi-micronutrient, iron-folic acid and iron alone.
Based on the results of the study, anemia
prevalence among anemic pregnant women who received the multi-micronutrient
supplementation significantly dropped to 12.8 percent compared with the anemia
prevalence of those who received iron-folic acid at 27.3 percent and those who
received iron only at 46.9 percent.
Even though the amount of iron in the
multi-micronutrient supplementations is lower than those of iron-folic acid
only and iron alone, there is still a significant improvement in the iron
status of pregnant women.
Improvement in vitamin B2 and folate status were
also noted for pregnant women who took the multi-micronutrient supplementation.
Furthermore, pregnant women who received the
multi-micronutrient and iron-folic acid supplementations reduced incidence of
low-birth-weight babies, premature deliveries and low occurrence of neonatal
deaths compared with those who received iron alone.
Based on the positive results of this study, the
government should consider giving multiple micronutrient supplementation to
pregnant women instead of iron alone.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue,
Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph, Telefax: 837-2934 and
827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Is your Christmas diet naughty or nice?
By Victor J. Alfonso, Jr.
If there is a time of the year when you allow
yourself to relax and forget about strict diet and constant work-out trips to
the gym, it’s the coming festive season.
It’s when you are already winding down toward
the end of the working year and gearing up for the holiday season. There are
lots of parties to attend, fruit cakes to nibble and noche buena leftovers to
enjoy, along with the relaxing cool breeze.
Despite the festivities of the season, remember
to limit the days when you are overeating to avoid over-indulgence.
Here are some strategies to pacify your holiday
fangs: Have a healthy snack before you go to a party or function. Filling foods
such as sandwiches or a bowl of cereal is a good idea.
More than usual when you arrive at a party, you
tend to be thirsty and in response you drink the first drink fast. Quench your
thirst with a glass of water instead of a high-calorie alcoholic or soft drink.
Enjoy one
or two small treats so you don’t feel deprived, but don’t go back for third and
fourth servings. If you overfill your plate, you are more likely to eat a much
larger portion than usual, so go easy! Also, take into account your feeling of
fullness. Don’t keep nibbling just because food is there.
Position yourself away from the buffet table.
This will prevent you from grabbing small servings every now and then; and,
lastly, if you are the host, encourage guests to take home leftovers so you are
not tempted to over-indulge the following day.
Finally, in order to keep you in Santa’s “nice”
list, here are some tips on how to effortlessly burn few calories this season
while having fun: Go Christmas shopping! Walking around in a large mall or
shopping center makes for great activity and fun. You just can’t get a better
activity combination! Do the old standard.
Park your vehicle a few meters from the building
and walk. Yes, it’s an old tip but still one of the best. Use the stairs
instead of the elevators and escalators.
Wrap those packages! And once yours are all
bundled up, volunteer to wrap some more; Bake some home-made holiday bread.
It’s a great exercise due to the kneading of the bread and a great personalized
gift, too!
Grab some friends and go carolling. A brisk walk
along the neighborhood gives you and your friends a great workout.
The festive season is upon us once again, and
for most of us, this means excessive amounts of eating, drinking and missing
daily exercise routines. These are easy tips to remember that can be summed up
in four words: variety, moderation, balance and activity. Eat a variety of food
and balance it with correct portions from each of the food groups. Just eat
enough, not in excess or lack.
By keeping these tips in mind, you will be sure
to have a merrier holiday season.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue,
Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph,
mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST
S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Pamahalaan nakahanda na para sa
pagpasok ng bagyong ‘Pablo,’ sa bansa ayon sa Malacanang
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Dis. 3 (PIA) -- Ang pamahalaan ay
nakahanda na para sa pagpasok ng bagyong Pablo sa bansa, ayon sa Malacanang.
Handa na rin silang magbigay ng tulong sa mga
maaapektuhan ng bagyo, ayon kay Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
.
Nakiusap din si Valte sa isinagawang press
briefing na isina-ire ng government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, sa
mga miyembro ng media na tumulong sa paghatid ng impormasyon sa lokasyon ng
bagyo.
Ayon naman sa Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) base sa kanilang
11:00 a.m na weather bulletin na ang bagyong ‘Pablo’ ay kasalukuyang na sa
1,110 km Timog-silangan ng Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur na may lakas ng hangin na
umaabot sa 185 kilometro bawat oras. Napag-alaman din na ang bagyo ay gumagalaw
pahilagang kanluran sa lakas na 22 kilometro bawat oras.
Nanawagan din si Valte sa lokal na pamahalaan na
patuloy na i-monitor ang PAGASA bulletin upang maipagpatuloy ang kanilang
kaligtasan.
“Patuloy po nating bantayan ang mga updates ng
PAGASA at makipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na atoridad at ang ating pamahalaang
nasyonal ay nakahanda rin na magbigay ng kahit anong tulong sa mga maaapektuhan,”
ani Valte. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
