National Nutrition Council – MIMAROPA Region spearheaded the third leg of online Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) Provincial Association Meeting participated by various barangay nutrition scholars, nutrition action officers and nutritionist-dietitians from the province of Occidental Mindoro last 19 October 2020 through Google Meet Application.
Discussed during the meeting were breastfeeding and COVID-19 FAQs for healthcare workers, milk donation policies during emergencies, report on SAM and MAM cases per municipality, Regional Nutrition Committee Resolution No. 1, s. 2020, Regional Development Council No. 1, s. 2020-072-908, status of FBNS member contributions and funds, guidelines on Medical and Survivorship Assistance Requests and CSC Eligibility Application, submission of nutrition reports, and sharing of plans and activities for the last quarter of year 2020.
Select BNS participants concluded their honorable experiences as front liners and delivery of nutrition services is continuous in response to the COVID-19. Few of the accomplishments made were monitoring of PUMs and PUIs, distributed food packs for families, guarded barangay checkpoints to check body temperature of individuals entering the community, disseminated vegetable packs to each household, gave vitamin A supplementation and deworming to children 6 to 59 months old, helped in distribution of assistance for Social Amelioration Program by the DSWD, monitored the weight and height of children and lastly, regularly checked the temperature of residents under home quarantine and in isolation facilities. Luckily, even barangay officials were beyond supportive in furnishing nutrition services focusing on the most vulnerable groups. In appreciation to the volunteers, the NNC Secretariat will disclose shirts as token.
Regardless of the health crisis we are experiencing, celebration of the 46th Nutrition Month still pushed through considering the public health safety protocols released by the DOH. A couple of activities conducted were hanging of streamers at the municipal hall, municipal health office and public markets, facilitated poster and poem making contests in the provincial level, participated at the regional poster making contest and regional poem making contest (Makatang BNS) spearheaded by NNC MIMAROPA, joined at the live virtual presser during launching of 46th Nutrition Month, managed Gulayan sa Bawat Sitio in advocacy to food security and provided food rations to pregnant women and malnourished children.
In compliance to Executive Order (EO) 51, attendees were refreshed on guidelines regarding donations of infant formula or powdered milk, teat or pacifier, commercial baby food and feeding bottle are forbidden. To support the Milk Code, the following releases were in order: a) DOH AO 2006-0014: National Policies on Infant and Young Children and b) DOH AO 2007-0017: Guidelines on the Acceptance and Processing of Foreign and Local Donations during Emergency and Disaster Situations focuses on prohibiting donations of any breastmilk substitutes. NNC MIMAROPA enlightens the participants with the breastfeeding and COVID-19 FAQs by healthcare workers released by the World Health Organization.
In assistance to the BNSs, the guidelines and requirements in application for Medical Assistance, Survivorship Assistance and CSC Eligibility were discussed briefly. The NNC Secretariat also informed attendees on the adaption of Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC) Resolution No. 1, s. 2020: Seeking Support from RDC MIMAROPA to Request all Local Government Units in the Region to Provide Healthy and Nutritious Food Packs during Disasters, Calamities and Public Health Emergencies which was approved by the Regional Development Council (RDC) last 4 September 2020.
Summing up, PNAO Dr. Arceli Rebong reminded all NAOs and BNSs to prioritize vulnerable groups as recipients of nutrition services such as infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women and elderly to deteriorate malnutrition in the province especially at this time of health crisis. (NKSLoyola)
Sources:
https://nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/region-iv-b-mimaropa/3895-rnc-pushes-for-healthy-food-packs
