National Nutrition Council jump-starts the new year with its 5th National Conference of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program held 6-7 January at Hotel H2O, Rizal Park in Manila.
Almost a hundred participants from the 25 Nutriskwela community radio stations in 15 regions across the country and NNC technical staff from the central and regional offices attended the conference. This year’s Nutriskwela Conference provided a venue for the community radio stations to be updated on nutrition interventions and share experiences along the use of the radio station in disaster and emergency management, promotion of nutrition and along community development. Mr. Louie Tabing of Tambuli Foundation also known as the Father of Community Radio in the Philippines discussed the basic concepts of community radio operations. It was also noted during the conference that the prevalence of underweight in the areas where the community radio stations are located has improved over recent years.
In her message during the opening program of the conference, Assistant Secretary of Health and NNC Executive Director Maria-Bernardita T. Flores emphasized the importance of the Nutriskwela community radio stations opening up and maintaining linkages with LGUs and other community-based organizations, especially for those campus-based stations. A/Sec Flores also announced that NNC will be expanding the Nutriskwela network to another 10 stations this year. She added that the Nutriskwela program continues to grow stronger since it started in 2008.
The Nutriskwela Community Radio Network program is a long-term, cost efficient strategy to address malnutrition in areas with high prevalence of malnutrition and without or limited access to commercial radio by disseminating correct, current and relevant information on nutrition, health, food, and from all sectors of the community, the national government agencies, and non-government organizations.
