The National Nutrition Council – NCR (NNC-NCR) together with the local government units in Metro Manila plans to maximize the use of multimedia platforms together with interpersonal communication for the 2020 nutrition media campaign.
A program implementation review of the local media campaign was held last November 29, 2019 at the Robbinsdale Hotel, Quezon City to assess the 2019 media campaign at the regional and local levels. It was attended by local nutrition program coordinators from the ten (10) LGUs namely Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Pateros, Las Pinas, Makati, Taguig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Navotas, and Valenzuela. Chair of the regional media group, NCR Nutrition Communication Resource Group (NCR2), Mr. Marvin Capco (PIO-Mandaluyong City) and members Ms. Lucia Brono (PIA-NCR) and Dr. Shari L. Sabalvaro (IYCF Coordinator-Mandaluyong City) were also present.
During the PIR, participants did an inventory of nutrition promotion activities per type of media to validate if the LGUs were able to utilize all forms of media for the nutrition campaign. They also identified the issues and concerns in their local media campaign as well as recommendations for better accomplishments in 2020.
City Nutrition Program Coordinators Danica Camille B. Clemente and Mary Joy C. Azures from the cities of Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa, respectively, shared their good practices on local media campaign. The discussion became an opportunity for the participants to learn from each other’s good practices and strategies that they can adapt in their own local media campaign.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo emphasized the need for the general public to be aware of the importance of good nutrition to help them make informed choices. “What remains a challenge is for us to maximize the use of multimedia platforms in our promotion of good nutrition. Through the use of media, we can reach more people and influence them to practice healthy eating and positive nutrition behaviors,” she said.
NPC Federizo also encouraged the LGUs to capitalize on the use of social media since almost everyone uses the different social media platforms. Social media also has a wider coverage in terms of number people reached both locally and globally. “It is important to choose the most effective medium in disseminating correct nutrition information to as many of our target audiences and the general public as possible,” she added.
The participants agreed to use multimedia combined with interpersonal communication in promoting the following key nutrition messages: Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022, First 1000 Days, proper nutrition for the elderly, Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Control (regulation of the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages, nutrition labeling and healthy eating), stunting prevention, Pinggang Pinoy, healthy diet and 10 Kumainments, among others.
Also, media campaign at the regional and local levels will target the policy makers, program managers, nutrition workers, priority population groups and the general public. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
