7-9 July 2014—The National Nutrition Council-CAR (NNC-CAR) invited the two newly hired support staff of the Provincial Nutrition Committee of Abra for a nutrition program orientation held at the NNC-CAR Regional Office as one strategy of the Regional Nutrition Committee to focus technical assistance on areas in the region with high malnutrition rate and with not fully functional local nutrition committees.

The Provincial Nutrition Committee- Abra established its Provincial Nutrition Office last February 2014 managed by Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Dr. Leona Beroña and District Nutrition Program Coordinator Glenda Benedito. In support with the PNAO who is at the same time the Provincial Health Officer and DNPC Benedito who is assigned as dietitian at Lapaz District Hospital, Gov. Bersamin hired two staff, Ms. Lhea Grei Benedito and Ms. Krizmae Roanne VIllaruz to assist in managing the said office. Hence, the orientation focused on the management of the provincial nutrition office in which part of the orientation is the presentation of the following: NNC organizational structure, Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, Operation Timbang Plus and the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation. Checklist of reports to be maintained in the office was also shared.

To complete the orientation, the group which was spearheaded by the NNC staff visited Kapangan, Benguet, Nutrition Honor Awardee and Barangay City Camp Proper, Baguio City. The visitation aimed purposely to show how a nutrition office is being managed and maintained and what documents and reports should be available. It was also an opportunity for them to get insights on the local nutrition programs as well as the effective strategies of the both areas.

The two staff committed to apply whatever strategies and learning they had absorbed in the two-day orientation.