Pagadian City (July 18) -- As many as 141 pregnant women; 138 breastfeeding mothers with their babies flocked together at the Provincial Capitol last July 15 for the 34th Nutrition Month celebration of Zamboanga del Sur provincial government.

Their number exceeded the target of the Provincial Nutrition Committee's technical working group to gather at least 100 pregnant women and 100 lactating mothers to participate in the "preggy leisure walk and mass breastfeeding activities, in line with this year's Nutrition Month theme: "Sa wastong nutrisyon ni mommy, siguradong healthy si baby," according to the Provincial Nutrition Office.

As programmed, they were the main groups of the community to hear a lecture about the importance of proper nutrition before, during and after pregnancy for a healthy mother and baby given by the Provincial Nutritionist and Dietician Joy Dajao of the Provincial Health Office.

Expectant mothers were told of the recommended diet and how much weight should a pregnant woman gain according to her height after they were weighed and measured. They were given vitamin A and iron and vegetables courtesy of the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office and Provincial Agriculture Office.

Moreover, the Provincial Nutrition Office distributed to them booklets where list of foods for pregnant and nursing mothers is written in vernacular.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Estrella Esma told the Provincial Press Bureau that in order to help achieve the National Millennium Development Goal 5 which is to reduce maternal mortality by three fourths in 2015, the Cerilles Administration will continue to give Vitamin A and iron supplements to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

The Nutri-Walk-for-a-Cause held early at 6:00 in the morning collects a participation fee of P1,000 from every participating agency. This is a strategy employed to raise funds to augment the supply of food supplements for pregnant and lactating mothers in the province.