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- Category: Region NCR
Anemia during pregnancy is one of the nutritional problems among mothers which can have deleterious effects to both mother and child. Severe anemia during pregnancy can cause premature birth and low birth weight in babies. Anemia can also be a contributing factor to maternal deaths. When hemorrhage or excessive bleeding happens during delivery, it may be difficult for an anemic mother to endure this blood loss and can lead to death. The prevention and control of anemia during pregnancy is vital to safe motherhood.
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy. Deficiencies in folate and vitamin B-12 can also cause anemia. According to the World Health Organization, anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin concentration is lower than normal. The hemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen and if there is not enough hemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. The growing fetus requires more nutrients, particularly iron and folic acid for growth and development. The increase in demand of iron can also increase the potential risk of iron deficiency anemia.
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Food insecurity is one of the major problems experienced by Filipinos due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) from November 3 – December 3, 2020 showed that 62.1% of the surveyed households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization, food insecurity is the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. Since many people lost their job and source of income due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in March 2020, many of the households have no money to buy food. Based on the RNAS, the common reasons for limited access to food were no or limited public transportation, limited food stores in the area and no allowed family members to go outside to buy food.
Read more: Food gardens: reliable source of additional food for the family
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Inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City, many individuals and groups were also inspired to put up their own. Guided by its tagline “Give what you can, take only what you need”, many organizers and volunteers made their community pantry healthy and nutritious by giving fresh vegetables, fruits, and egg aside from rice, noodles, and canned goods.
A month ago, the initiative of putting up a community pantry went viral on social media. Many well-meaning and good-hearted individuals and groups went out to either set-up their own community pantry or donate in kind or in cash with the hope that in their own little way they could help people in need.
Community pantry is a small table set up with various food items on it, located in an accessible area where people in need passing by can take for free as many items that they need. People who would like to give could either coordinate with the organizers or just put their donated items on the table.
Read more: Healthy Community Pantries, a ‘New Normal’ way of providing good nutrition
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- Category: Region NCR
Covering your coughs and sneezes together with proper hand hygiene can prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough and severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, the same virus family that causes COVID-19.
Germs and viruses can easily spread from the droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets which contain the virus particles can spread from person to person through direct contact and can contaminate surfaces and objects. Some people may become infected through touching these contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their faces without washing their hands.
Read more: Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spread of respiratory diseases
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- Category: Region NCR
In preparation for this year’s Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation or MELLPI which will include the evaluation of Local Nutrition Focal Points (LNFPs), the National Nutrition Council – NCR conducted an online orientation for the local government units (LGUs) on May 5, 2021 to discuss the MELLPI tools for LNFPs.
The orientation was attended by 84 participants from the 17 Metro Manila LGUs composed of Nutrition Action Officers and assistant NAOs, nutritionist-dietitians, and members of the local nutrition committees.
This year's MELLPI will be conducted online and will assess the LGU's 2019 nutrition program implementation, the performance of their Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) as well as Nutrition Action Officer (NAO) and local nutrition program coordinator referred to as local nutrition focal points (LNFPs).
Read more: NCR LGUs oriented on the MELLPI Pro Tools for Local Nutrition Focal Points
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The year 2020 has been a challenging year. With the eruption of the Taal Volcano in January, disease outbreaks, typhoons, and the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 is indeed a year to remember. But amidst these challenges, the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators (C/DNPC) of Metro Manila Association, Inc. was able to achieve notable accomplishments.
The Association’s accomplishments were presented by Ms. Joann Espiritu in her President’s Report during the first Association meeting for the year held on April 23, 2021. One of the most notable accomplishment is the establishment of the Online IYCF Counselling Project which already marked its one-year anniversary last April 8. The project was launched with the assistance from the National Nutrition Council – NCR (NNC-NCR) as part of the campaign in promoting proper infant and young children feeding (IYCF) practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: C/DNPC of MM Association looks back on 2020 accomplishments and gears up for 2021
