BANGUED, Abra – Proper documentation of activities of local nutrition committees is necessary to determine ratings of performance and the nutritional status of children six years old and below. 

This was emphasized by the National Nutrition Council Cordillera representatives during a workshop conducted for Abra-Provincial Nutrition Council members at the Abra Provincial Health Office on April 11.

Concerns on inadequate reports from the member-agencies were tackled because these are vital components in the determination of the nutritional status of children. 

Some PNC members raised the absence of school nurses in many elementary schools in the province, especially in upland municipalities, resulting in the lack of reports especially that of the Nutritional Assessment of school children and the administration of the National Immunization Program and micronutrients, such as iodine capsules and Vitamin A.

Rowee D. Nolasco, nurse representative of the Department of Education, explained that most of the school nurses are based in national high schools. School nurses who are organic staff of the national high schools are not free to go to other schools.  

Provincial Nutritionist Mary June A. Algarne suggested that the DepEd may request for technical assistance from the rural health units in their respective municipalities to administer other health programs in the schools so that all pupils will be covered in all the health programs. 

On the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation, the NNC will visit Bangued, Luba, Peñarrubia, Tayum, Danglas, Lagangilang, and La Paz at random from from April 23 to 26. 

The evaluators will be looking at documents such as the Municipal Nutrition Action Plan, area profiles, report of activities and accomplishments, organizational structure, and local issuances by the LGUs, among others.

by Maria Teresa B. Beñas / PIA Abra