Region III

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 24 March 2020

bns3 March marks the celebration of the Women’s Month in the entire Philippine archipelago, alongside with the celebration of the International Women’s Day every 8^th of March.

As we approach the culmination of the month-long celebration, let us take this as an opportune time to make every Filipino understand the roles of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) as the dedicated – lady Juanas, the barangay-based volunteer workers who are empowered by their love for service to the people—their “kababayans’.

Levering the works of these women, we salute their continuous and unrelenting support to the barangay nutrition program.

First, in organizing the barangay nutrition committee (BNC), the BNSs are there to assist their barangay chairpersons in organizing and reactivating their BNCs. The BNSs also serve as the BNAOs or Barangay Nutrition Action Officers in coordinating the activities of the BNC and assisting in selecting and designing nutrition programs.

Second, in implementing barangay nutrition programs, the BNSs, as members of the Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus Team, identify and locate target preschooler children, prepare and update the master list of beneficiaries, monitor the weight and height of children. They also attend trainings to equip them in providing nutrition and related services, improve their referrals of families with malnourished children to service providers, and continuously advocate for investment for nutrition programs.

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 23 March 2020

PIR Photo on the left shows participants reviewing LGUs' accomplishments vis-a-vis RPAN targets and right photo shows Dr. Janet Miclat,
Cluster Head of the Family Health Cluster of DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development, welcoming and thanking participants
to the 2-day PIR.

Year 2020 marks the mid-term review (MTR) and Updating of the Central Luzon Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (CL RPAN). The MTR is a preparation for the next three years of implementation of the RPAN, 2019-2022 which commenced with the two-day Program Implementation Review (PIR) among the Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers (P/CNAOs) and District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (D/CNPCs) 2019-2022.

Held on 11-12 March 2020 at the Otel Pampanga, Lazatin Boulevard, Dolores City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the PIR was aimed at 1) reviewing the extent the targets in the CL RPAN Results Framework have been accomplished; and 2) identifying strategies and programs to improve implementation in the remaining two years of RPAN implementation.

Twenty-two participants from five (5) out of 7 provinces, namely Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales; and eight (8) out of 14 cities (Balanga, San Jose del Monte, Gapan, San Jose, Angeles, Mabalacat, San Fernando, and Tarlac) in Central Luzon participated in the PIR.

Members of the RTWG for Nutrition from Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development, Department of Education (DepEd); National Economic and Development Authority, and the National Nutrition Council provided technical support.

The presentation of results of the MTR of PPAN, 2017-2022, Local Nutrition Committee Functionality Monitoring, 2019 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro, 2019 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus and Updates on the RPAN, 2019-2020, provided the participants a backdrop of the current nutrition situation in Central Luzon.

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 25 January 2020

Every 4^th week of the month of January, we observe the “Goiter Awareness Week,” by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 1188 signed on 11 December 2006. This year, we are celebrating the Goiter Awareness Week with the theme: Isip Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt, Gamitin on January 20-26, 2020.

Goiter is defined by the World Health Organization as a health condition which is exhibited by the enlargement of the thyroid gland[1] characterized by a swelling in the neck due to the formation of a lump. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in front of the trachea (windpipe) responsible for the production of the thyroid hormone, which helps regulate the body’ metabolism[2]. The most common cause of goiter is iodine deficiency, but other causes include nodules, inflammation, hyperthyroidism, smoking, hormonal changes, and Grave’s disease (an autoimmune disease). It may also be caused by the overconsumption of goitrogen-rich foods[3]. Goitrogen is a substance that enlarges the thyroid gland that causes toxic goiter.

Iodine is a mineral that has an integral part in the thyroid hormone. With iodine deficiency, the thyroid hormone production declines and the hypothalamus of the brain, which is responsible in regulating the thyroid hormone production in the body, responds by signaling the pituitary gland to secrete more Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in an attempt to accelarate iodide (form of iodine that is adsorbed in the body) intake in the thyroid gland. If a deficiency persist, the cells of the thyroid gland enlarge to trap as much iodide as possible until a visible lump is seen in the neck^3. Goiter that is caused by iodine deficiency may be referred to as “simple goiter,” as it is the earliest and most obvious sign of iodine deficiency. Symptoms of goiter are as follows:

Swelling at the front side of the base of the neck that ranges from a small lump to a general enlargment, which is the most common sign of goiter;
Coughing;
Difficulty in breathing;
Hoarsness and change in one’s voice;
Difficulty in swallowing;²
Tiredness;
Dryness of skin & hair;
Sleepiness;
Diarrhea or constipation;
Menstrual irregularities;
Depression;
Decrease or increase in weight; and
Low or increased appetite[1]

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 26 February 2020

Left photo: NNC Region III’s NPC Ana Maria Rosaldo & NO III Angelita Pasos interviewing Radyo Kaedup Radio Station Manager Maribie Buenaventura during the monitoring visit. Right photo: NPC Rosaldo, NO III Pasos, and NO I Antonette Garcia, meeting with MNAO Analyn Pajarillo, Ms. Buenaventura, and Hon. Shierwin Taay, Mayor of Dingalan, to feedback the results of the monitoring visit.

On the 7^th of February 2020, Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) Ana Maria Rosaldo, Nutrition Officer (NO) III Angelita Pasos, NO I Antonette Garcia, and Administrative Aide (AA) III Joie Sicat of the NNC Region III visited Dingalan, Aurora to monitor Radyo Kaedup 102.9 FM, one of the 50 Nutriskwela Community Radio stations in the country.

The NNC RO III staff met with the station’s Community Radio Council (CRC) – which serves as an advisory group on all matter regarding station directions and programming. The CRC of Radyo Kaedup 102.9 FM is composed of members from the Municipal Nutrition Committee, Sangguniang Bayan (SB), Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD), Municipal Health Office (MHO), radio news writer and programmer, and radio announcers. During the meeting, the CRC members introduced each of their assigned radio program, voiced out their opinions and feedbacks received from their constituents, discussed the problems encountered during operation, and gave suggestions to further improve the service of the station. The monitors learned that Radyo Kaedup operates 126 hours per week or 18 hours a day, starting at 4:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M. in the evening. Nutrition programs are aired twice a day, including the segment “Katumbas ay Biyaya,” in which the constituents eagerly awaits for its broadcast. Development programs and updates on news and current affairs are also aired alternately with the nutrition programs. The radio station received feedback from its listeners via text messages and comments posted on their official Facebook page where they also provide livestreaming of their radio broadcasts. Radio Station Manager Maribie Buenaventura shared to the team that the news updates, press releases posted on the facebook page of NNC served as the sources of nutrition information that is being disseminated every radio broadcast. Nutrition information are sourced from the Rural Health Units, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). According to the CRC members, the feedback they receive from listeners through platforms mentioned before are always positive which serves as motivation for them to continue and strive to work harder in the service of the Dingaleños through radio broadcasting. A quick feedback report on the results of the monitoring and meeting with the CRC members was shared with Mayor Shierwin Taay, who is also the Chair of Dingalan Municipal Nutrition Committee.

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 15 January 2020

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Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit III participates in the Iodized Salt Testing, positive result noted.

Iodine is an essential micronutrient for humans. Just like other minerals, it is needed by the body to regulate body temperature, metabolic rate, reproduction, growth, nerve and muscle function. Inadequate intake of iodine has a wide range of serious risks such as mental retardation, reduced IQ points, deaf-mutism, and dwarfism; goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland, miscarriage and giving birth to abnormal babies. Based on results of studies, an average of 13.5 IQ points is lost due to deficiency in iodine. Both children and adults are affected by Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).

Iodine in humans is measured by way of urinary excretion. Based on the results of the 2015 NNS of the DOST-FNRI, the Median UIE among 6-12 years old children in all provinces of Central Luzon is acceptable based on adequacy level of equal to or more than one hundred micrograms per liter (<100-150 µg/L). On the other hand, the proportion of urinary iodine excretion (UIE) values, less than fifty micrograms per liter (<50 µg/L) among 6-12 y old children, particularly in Bataan Province, 25.5% and Aurora Province, 26.1% was high and an indicative of a moderate deficiency.

One cost-effective strategy to address IDD is the addition of iodine or potassium iodate to salt. This strategy was made initially in the Province of Bulacan using an iodizing machine although it was short-lived because of the cost of maintenance of the machine. The BNSs of Barangay Sta. Rita in Olongapo City had their salt iodized manually through the initiative of a non-government organization under the Urban Basic Services Program in the city. Another one was Barangay Mabayuan, also in Olongapo City initiated and initially funded by barangay officials, but short-lived also. Meanwhile, a barangay cooperative or Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Mangingisda in Barangay Libaba, Palauig, Zambales had engaged since in 2015 also in manual salt iodization, the product is labelled as “Bagong Sikat” iodized salt, which until now is in operation.

Details: Category: Region 3; Published: 06 February 2020

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Left photo: NNC staff from Central Luzon, MimaRoPa, & CaLaBaRZon with volunteer teachers of Balayan West Central School; 5th from right is NPC Ana Maria Rosaldo standing beside Team Leader NO III Edzell Arcinue and leftmost, NO I Antonette Garcia. Right photo: NO I Garcia getting the MUAC of a 2-year old child.

The National Nutrition Council Central Luzon and NNC MiMaRoPa Region joined the Regional Nutrition Cluster of NNC CaLaBaRZon Region in providing emergency response to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption on 23-24 January 2020. Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo and Ms. Antonette D. Gail Garcia of NNC Central Luzon; Ms. Lourdes B. Bulante Orongan and Ms. Ma. Jhonnadelle Ritz H. Castillo of NNC CaLaBaRZon; and Mr. Edzell M. Arcinue of NNC MiMaRoPa visited four schools from two different municipalities which temporarily served as shelters and evacuation centers for the families displaced by the eruption of Taal volcano, which includes: 1) Balayan West Central School; 2) Balayan East Central School; 3) Madalunot Elementary School; and 4) Baclas Elementary School.

In the two days in Balayan and Calaca, Batangas, the joined team of three regions were able to conduct rapid nutrition assessment, profiling and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) assessment on children 6-59 months old and pregnant women; interview of camp managers, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) for the Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment (NINA) tool; IYCF counseling to pregnant and lactating mothers; as well as administered Vitamin A capsules to children 6-59 months old and pregnant women.