“There’s only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.” - Vincent Lombardi
The City Nutrition Committee (CNC) chaired by City Mayor Mayor Guia G. Gomez is determined to scale up the nutrition services of San Juan for better nutrition outcomes.
The CNC continues to use integrated approaches and strategies in its effort to scale up nutrition and bring about nutrition improvement in the city. In 2016, the CNC was able to do better and expand the reach of their programs through the unwavering support of its members and strong partnership with non-government organizations, hospitals, academe and the business sector.
In support of the First 1000 Days Campaign, the CNC conceptualized and launched its 3G Club Project in the early part of 2016 in partnership with various stakeholders from government and non-government organizations as well as the business community. The 3G stands for “Galing at Gandang Ginang ng San Juan”. The project aims to ensure that the child gets the best nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life by providing mothers good maternal care during pregnancy and lactation, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding, and providing essential health care to both mother and child.
The CNC also maintains a Lactation Room located in the Nutrition Office at the City Hall in its effort to encourage working mothers to continue breastfeeding and in support of RA 10028. Supplies and materials for the lactation room were donated by San Juan Medical Society. Underweight preschool and school children are provided supplementary feeding through the “Share and Adopt a Malnourished Family” Project supported by various partner stakeholders. Preschool children and pregnant and lactating mothers are also referred to an NGO partner (Right Start) for micronutrient supplementation. In celebration of the 2016 World Food Day, the CNC implemented its Natanging Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan Project wherein communities and schools established vegetable gardens. The produce from the gardens were used in the supplementary feeding programs for underweight and wasted preschool and school children.
To address the increasing problem of overnutrition among adults and children, the CNC conducted Zumba Exercises and Katutubong Palarong Pinoy. These activities provided adults and children the opportunities to be physically active and instill among them the value of exercise and healthy lifestyle. The children are also taught how to take care of the environment through its EnviroKids Project that teaches them to re-use, reduce and recyle waste materials.
To ensure wide dissemination and promotion of good nutrition, the CNC uses the LED boards located at the City Hall and Pinaglabanan Street to display nutrition messages such as the 10 Kumainments.
The BNSs also regularly conduct Pabasa sa Nutrisyon classes in the barangays to educate more mothers on good nutrition.
Through the strong leadership of CNC Chair Mayor Guia Gomez, the CNC has become fully functional, an achievement that the city boasts of. The CNC meets regularly and monitors the activities of the Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNCs) on a quarterly basis, to mentor and coach them and ensure that nutrition programs are well in placed in the communities reaching those who are most in need of nutrition interventions.
Because of the persistent advocacy of the CNC, two (2) nutrition-relevant ordinances were passed in 2016: a city ordinance in support of the Saktong Iodine sa Asin Campaign of the Department of Health to ensure that all iodized salt sold in the markets and retail stores contain the required amount of iodine, and an ordinance requiring all BNCs to allocate at least P50,000 for the Barangay Nutrition Program yearly.
Indeed, the City of San Juan is seriously bent on reducing all forms of malnutrition by scaling up their nutrition programs implemented by active and functional nutrition committees at the city and barangay levels.
Written by: Dr. Rosalie M. Sto. Domingo, City Nutrition Action Officer), Ms. Trizia E. Bonina (Nutritionist-Dietitian II), Mr. Anthony V. Benabese (ND II), Ms. Catherine M. Villas (Barangay Health Aide)
* San Juan City was the recipient of the Outstanding LGU in Nutrition Program Management 1st Runner Up Award and LGU with Continuous Improvement in Nutrition Program Management Award during the 2017 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) on July 28, 2017 at Novotel Hotel, Quezon City.
* Article was included in the 2017 RNAC Souvenir Program
