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- Category: Region CAR
During the Joint Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) and Regional Technical Assistants on Nutrition (RTAN) meeting held at Pines View Hotel, Baguio City last September 12, 2012, the group discussed the draft resolution entitled “Intensifying Advocacy of the National Salt Iodization Program” for comments and approval of the body prior to presentation to the RDC-CAR. This resolution will strengthen the promotion and utilization of iodized salt regionwide; push LGUs to revive their ASIN Task Force and to monitor activities in support to the ASIN Law.
Based on the findings by the NSIP-TWG who visited the Province of Benguet and the City of Baguio last 2011, it was noted that awareness and utilization of iodized salt in the area continue to decline. Most of the respondents/ households interviewed, do not know the importance of iodine and some are not familiar with the said law. It was also observed that iodized and non-iodized salt are being sold at the market.
Moreover, the latest National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that in CAR, there were only 53.4 percent compliance on the use of iodized salt and that of this figure, 92.8% reacted positively to potassium iodate, which attests to the effectiveness of salt iodization program. In addition, there remains a high prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in the region among pregnant and lactating women.
This resolution will now be presented by the RNC to the forthcoming 4th Quarter Regional Development Council –Cordillera Administrative Region ExCom meeting for approval and will be furnished to all the members of the RDC especially provincial governors for appropriate action.
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- Category: Region CAR
Ms. Teresita B. Biteng, Service Personnel Specialist of Civil Service Commission- Cordillera, Administrative Region an expert trainer on strengthening self development, positive communication, and institution building was invited as a resource person during the Joint Team Building of NNC-Region I and CAR held last October 11, 2012 at George Guesthouse, Sagada, Mt. Province. This activity aims to strengthen rapport and camaraderie among employees of both regions by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each individual and/or group, boosting confidence and enhancing skills in public service and developing ability to work closely together as a team.
She said that “Working as a team incorporates group accountability rather than individual accountability and results in a collective work product, increased flexibility in skills and abilities, more productive than work groups with individual mindset, more beneficial in times of organizational change, encourage both individual and team development and improvement, and focuses on group goals to accomplish more beneficial tasks”. Likewise, she reminded that everybody to be guided by the core values of NNC which are Integrity, Zeal, Excellence, Sensitivity and Transparency (IZEST).
Moreover, she further explained the importance of proper communication and collaboration in the workplace through a workshop “Building a Strong and Long Bridge” using materials collected during the long trip from Baguio City to Sagada, Mt. Province via Banaue, Ifugao route. Participants were grouped into two, one as the Talking Group while the other one as Non-talking Group. During the processing of outputs, she presented the big difference in terms of the appearance and durability in relation with proper coordination. She also inspired all the staff to be open and be approachable to be able to establish sound working relationships to co-workers with her presentation about the Joharis window.
As a result, the employees expressed their appreciation, commitment and support in building a healthy and friendly relationship in the workplace to further improve the delivery of nutrition services especially in the promotion of good nutrition in both regions.
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- Category: Region CAR
The Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and midwives from the 21 barangays of the municipality of Kabugao, Apayao attended the World Health Organization-Child Growth Standard (WHO-CGS) Training for Barangay Nutrition Scholars conducted by the National Nutrition Council-CAR on October 19, 2012 at the Municipal Hall of the said municipality.
The training was funded by NNC to ensure the provision of capacity- building activities for nutrition workers to the Top 100 Municipalities nationwide with the highest prevalence of underweight preschool children where Kabugao, Apayao ranked 98th.
Topics discussed were the adoption of the WHO CGS in the Philippines with the addition of height/length in growth assessment; updating of the nutrition assessment tools like growth tables and Early Child Care and Development Card (ECCD); guidelines of the Operation Timbang Plus; and counseling mothers using the prescribed Job Aid IEC material.
Through the training, it is expected that the skills and knowledge acquired by the participants will improve the nutrition situation of the municipality by ensuring delivery of quality and timely nutrition-related services especially to identified malnourished children.
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- Category: Region CAR
Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) showed their full support on the proposed establishment of a Nutriskwela Community Radio Station inside the campus during the orientation at the President’s Conference Room, ASIST, Lagangilang, Abra.
Mr. Francis “Kiko” Flores, of M.Q. Mediazone Productions and Project Leader of the NNC-Nutriskwela Project, together with Ms. Rose Lulu Pagaduan, Officer In-Charge of National Nutrition Council- Region I and CAR, her technical staff and Ms. Desiree Margarita Henson, representative of Assistant Secretary of Health Maria Bernardita T. Flores, Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council, spearheaded the orientation of the project with the heads and officers of the said school. Being a 5-year media partner of the National Nutrition Council, Mr. Flores shared a lot of success stories and good practices being undertaken with the existing Nutriskwela Community Radio Station nationwide and convincing the stakeholders of the institution to adopt the project.
“Radio is a very fast means of communication. Listening to the radio is revealed as a family event. This project will provide listeners with vital information specifically on proper nutrition and other integrated school activities regarding announcements or updates on programs and projects of the institution,” he added.
In addition, he further stressed that Lagangilang is a targeted location being one of the municipalities with high malnutrition prevalence under the clustered 609 municipalities identified as convergence area on poverty reduction and the municipality has no commercial radio station reaching the area.
On the other hand, Ms. Rose Lulu Pagaduan mentioned that based on the 2011 Operation Timbang results, the nutrition situation of the municipality is alarming with prevalence rate of malnutrition of 21.86% compared to the province of 12.77% including that of the region and the country as a whole. She also added that putting up of the project will greatly contribute in addressing the malnutrition problem especially along advocacy, information dissemination and promotion of good nutrition practices.
Furthermore, Dr. Aurelio Labanen, President of ASIST together with the school administrators expressed their interest and willingness to adopt the project and to provide all the necessary counterparts of the school to be able to push through with the project.
The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) will conduct a thorough assessment about the needed requirements for the establishment of the project. The Memorandum of Agreement between the National Nutrition Council and ASIST is therefore the next step to make the project a reality.
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- Category: Region CAR
LAGAWE, Ifugao, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has bestowed the first year Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (Crown) maintenance award to the province of Ifugao during the 2012 National Nutrition awarding ceremony in Pasay City on Friday.
Members of the provincial nutrition council (PNC) led by Governor Eugene Balitang received the award from Health Secretary Enrique Ona.
The said awarding ceremony, aimed at recognizing the contributions of local government units and barangay nutrition scholars in improving their communities, was graced by President Aquino and participated by other nutrition awardees all over the country.
The award was conferred on Ifugao for the efficient and effective management of the provincial nutrition program which resulted to the improvement of the nutritional status of its people particularly the children.
Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardina T. Flores said the conferring of the award to Ifugao was based on the recommendation of the National Nutrition Evaluation Team.
“The result of the NNET validation visit on May 21-25 affirmed the efficient and effective management of the provincial nutrition program which lead to downward trend in nutritional status of pre-school and schoolchildren and their families in the community,” she said.
The Crown award was given to Ifugao last year for being adjudged by the inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team as the 2010 outstanding province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the implementation of its nutrition action plan to curb malnutrition for three consecutive years.(JDP/MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)
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- Category: Region CAR
The results of the “2011 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Children and Selected Population Groups” which was disseminated by the DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed good and alarming findings.
The survey revealed the decreased prevalence of underweight and wasting among under-five year old and school aged children compared to the results of the survey conducted in 2008.
However, it was noted that stunting among children and adolescents have increased. According to Dr. Jocelyn Juguan of the FNRI, 3 out of 10 under-five year old and school aged children in the Cordillera are stunted. Furthermore, 4 out of 10 adolescents are likewise stunted. The prevalence of stunting in CAR is considered very high in magnitude of severity or having >30-40% prevalence rate as per the World Health Organization standard.
The problem on undernutrition in the region was exacerbated by the persistent increase of overweight/obesity in all age groups. Nationwide, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is among the top five (5) regions in the country with high prevalence of overweight and obesity among infants and adults.
Convergence and strengthening of the nutrition programs implemented by the Local Government Units (LGUs), various government agencies and the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are enjoined to address the existing malnutrition problem in the region.
