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Learning and Nutrition

NutriJuice being distributed in Subic

11/01/2009

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To help facilitate the learning of 2,500 students in Subic, Zambales, NutriJuice was launched at Matain Elementary School last July.

NutriJuice is an orange juice drink fortified with iron, zinc, lysine and Vitamins A and C. It was developed by Coca-Cola and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology to help combat iron deficiency anemia (IDA). According to the 2008 National Nutrition Survey by the FNRI-DoST, 19.8 percent of children aged six-12 have IDA.

This presents an alarming problem as IDA hampers children’s physical and mental development. It causes sluggishness, inattentiveness and general lack of energy; not good attributes especially among students who need an active mind and body to absorb lessons in school. Improved learning means equipping the future leaders of the country with the tools they need to face tomorrow.

In 2006, NutriJuice’s efficacy was tested among 277 students at Pinaglabanan Elementary School, San Juan, Manila. After 100 feeding days, NutriJuice was able to reduce IDA from 100 to 13 percent. Thus in 2008 NutriJuice was given for 120 days to 5,000 students in Quirino province and 1,500 at Bagong Silangan Elementary School, Quezon City. This year, NutriJuice is currently being distributed for free to 30,000 students in the areas of Tacloban, Palawan, Quirino, Davao, Bukidnon, and Zambales, as well as the cities of Marikina, Pasig and Taguig in Manila.

Matain Elementary School welcomed Coca-Cola and other guests to celebrate the distribution of NutriJuice in their school. In attendance were Jefferson Khonghun, Subic Board Member and JB Baylon, VP for Public Affairs and Communications of Coca-Cola Philippines. Principal Agnes Edora from Santo Tomas Elementary School, another beneficiary school, and parents also joined in the festivities.

Principal Macario Sahagun of Matain Elementary School said the launching would actually encourage the students to study more.

“This is because they know very well that there are people and benefactors who are really helping to improve their nutrition and to really better their academic performance.”

“When the children first found out that they would be given NutriJuice by Coca-Cola, the word ‘Coca-Cola’ itself was enough to bring energy to them. In fact even before the feeding program started, they already knew that they would be given something good.”

Grade 3 teacher Yolanda Alorita also attested to this, saying “The children were really very happy to know about this program. The parents’ reaction was the same. I think we can say that absences were minimized because they started drinking, that’s why they were very happy.”

“NutriJuice will really be a big help to our school,” Sahagun added. “There have been researches done here on iron deficiency. So we know that NutriJuice has the right amount of iron and other vitamins and minerals for the children to really give more importance to their nutrition and their education.”

Alorita added she has seen the improvements in the children herself. “Class participation has improved. Especially in my class you can really see that they are very active. During recitation they are all eager to participate. The effect has really been great.”

As parting message, Sahagun said, “No doubt, Coca-Cola is always Coca-Cola. I can really say that they are one company which always helps to ensure that children’s health and performance in school will improve.”