The officers and members of the Association of Nutrition Action Officers in NCR (ANAO-NCR, Inc.) reiterated their commitment to support initiatives to end hunger and malnutrition by signing the Declaration to End Hunger and Malnutrition during the Association’s regular meeting held on July 29, 2013 at Max’s Restaurant in Mandaluyong City hosted by ANAO-NCR President Mrs. Carmelita “Menchie” A. Abalos. By signing the Declaration, the officers and members of ANAO-NCR affirmed their commitment to work together to scale up nutrition and nutrition-sensitive interventions in their respective localities to help mitigate hunger and malnutrition.

San Juan CNAO Dr. Victor A. Lacandola presided over the meeting on behalf of CNAO Abalos who was unfortunately indisposed that day. He was assisted by NNC-NCR Nutrition Program Coordinator Mila V. Federizo. Among those discussed during the meeting were the following: (a) 2013 Nutrition Month celebration; (b) organization of Nutrition Cluster in Emergencies and Disaster and the Bantay Asin Task Force in the LGUs; (c) capability building activities for nutrition workers such as Trainings on BNS, Nutrition Program Management and IYCF Refresher Course; (d) guidelines on the use of the IEC materials provided to the LGUs such as “Why Not?” DVDs, Veggie Exhibit Guide and Veggie Stickers; (e) approved RNC Resolutions; and (f) orientation on PPAN for the newly elected mayors. The group also brainstormed on the fund-raising activities of the Association for the year.

Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation delivered by Dr. Shari Sabalvaro, IYCF Coordinator of Mandaluyong City, on how to put up a breastmilk storage in the community. The NAOs would like to explore how this can be adopted in their locality in support of the campaign on breastfeeding which is considered to be an anti-poverty and anti-hunger intervention.