Featured Articles

Details: Category: Featured Articles; Published: 09 November 2015

sam launching November 5, 2015 marked a breakthrough in addressing severe acute malnutrition in the Philippines and a first in East Asia, that is, the launch of the National Guidelines for the Management of Acute Malnutrition among Children Under-5. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) joined this milestone being the co-lead of the PIMAM (Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition) National Program Management Team, with Department of Health (DOH) being the lead. Health Undersecretary Vicente Belizario Jr., Dr. Willibald Zeck of UNICEF, Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, key DOH and UNICEF officials, led the ribbon cutting ceremony at Richmonde Hotel in Pasig. Highlighted too in the event was the journey of two children, namely Jeric and Fahad, who once suffered from severe acute malnutrition.

Indeed, management of acute malnutrition has the power to improve survival of children under 5 years old nationwide by ensuring access to evidence-based, effective, and life-saving interventions to prevent and treat acute malnutrition. Management of acute malnutrition which used to be done only in emergency situations, will now be integrated and institutionalized into routine health and nutrition programs, and scaled up effectively to address severe acute malnutrition in both emergency and development contexts as undernutrition continues to be a public health priority in the country.

Details: Category: Featured Articles; Published: 09 November 2015

first1000days Phineas Taylor Barnum, a known author of his era, once said, “The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune.” But achieving good health and well-being may not be easy if optimum nutrition was not achieved and if health, nutrition, and related services were not provided even before birth. This in turn will hinder children from achieving their maximum growth potential.

In the Philippines, the 2013 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) reported that 3 out of 10 or 30.3% children among 0-5 years old were stunted or were too short for their height. The prevalence rate may have decreased compared to 2003 NNS result which is 33.9%, but is slow for a decade’s progress.

Chronic malnutrition is measured by stunting, which takes a long time to develop, but will severely cause failure to grow leading to lower physical capacity, and mental skills and activity. It also poses infants to greater risk of premature death; survivors have compromised immunity, and are at higher chance for developing infections, heart disease, diabetes and kidney infections. Mothers who are chronically malnourished as children will in turn give birth to low birth weight babies, and malnutrition shall be passed on to future generations like a vicious cycle.

Considering these life-long impacts of chronic malnutrition, the Philippines cannot risk another decade of little advancement. That is why the National Nutrition Council designed an Early Childhood Care and Development Intervention Package (ECCD IP) which primarily aims to provide integrated services of health, nutrition, early education, and social services on the most crucial period of one’s growth and development—the first 1000 days of life—which covers the period of conception up to the second year of life of a child. The ECCD IP operationalizes the priorities of action of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2011-2016, aiming not only to reduce malnutrition but also to contribute to poverty alleviation. The ECCD IP shall be implemented in all Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) municipalities from the Category 1 provinces as determined by the Cabinet Cluster on Human Development and Poverty Reduction targeting pregnant women, children 0-23 months old, and parents/caregivers.

Details: Category: Featured Articles; Published: 04 November 2015

SGG The 2015 SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) Movement Annual Gathering (SUNGG15) was held in Milan, Italy on October 20-22. National Nutrition Council (NNC) Executive Director and Assistant Secretary of Health Maria Bernardita T. Flores attended the event and joined the panel of the plenary session, “Equity, Women Empowerment and Nutrition”.

A/Sec. Flores shared that in the Philippines, the Philippine Commission on Women was established as the national machinery for gender equality and women empowerment. She also shared that gender issues, including use of gender fair language, is being mainstreamed in the Philippines. She emphasized the use of mass media, interpersonal communication and capacity building of nutrition implementers at the local level for nutrition promotion and how these platforms are more empowering because of the positive feedback from both the listeners and the viewers.

Other speakers stressed the importance of educating both women and men on nutrition, ending women-related violence, gender equality, ending child marriage and the women’s role in breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition. As a final thought for the session, A/Sec. Flores stressed the importance of different media forms, be it traditional or social media, to make noise and empower more women, men, and youth to improve their nutrition and their lives.

SUNGG15 showcased the efforts of the 55 SUN Countries in scaling up nutrition in their countries and in charting the future if the movement.

Details: Category: Featured Articles; Published: 03 November 2015

The NNC will gather more than 200 district/city nutrition program coordinators from different provinces and cities nationwide during the 5th National Conference of District/ City Nutrition Program Coordinators (D/CNPC) on 3-4 November 2015 in Manila. The biennial conference is organized in partnership with the District /City Nutrition Program Coordinators Association of the Philippines, Inc. (D/CNPCAP, Inc.). The conference theme “Conquer Malnutrition! Start with the First 1,000 Days” underscores the important role of D/CNPCs in ensuring optimal nutrition of the child while still in the womb and until the child reaches his/her second birthday. D/CNPCs are looked upon to be able to support the implementation of a package of early interventions for this crucial age that includes maternal nutrition, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, appropriate complementary feeding starting at 6 months while continuing breastfeeding and within the context of early child care and development.

The conference aims to: 1) provide updates and directions on nutrition and related policies and programs to address malnutrition and hunger; 2) enhance knowledge, skills and values of D/CNPCs to improve their efficiency and effectiveness; 3) convene the members of the D/CNPCAP, Inc. for its general assembly; and 4) strengthen camaraderie among D/CNPC s through participation and fellowship opportunities.

The two-day event will combine technical sessions on policy and program updates with skills enhancement and personal development that will harness the full potential of the D/CNPCs.

Assistant Secretary of Health and NNC Executive Director Maria-Bernardita T. Flores will be the keynote speaker. The D/CNPCAP Inc. will also hold its general assembly to discuss various concerns along strengthening its membership as well as its plans for the association.

The D/CNPCs under Presidential Decree 1569 or Strengthening the Barangay Nutrition Program by Providing for a Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay, were designated as trainers and supervisors of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs). They also provide technical support to local nutrition committees.