National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA organized the first meeting of Nutrition Action Officers of the Philippines – MIMAROPA Chapter and Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers on 17 February 2021 via Zoom Application with 14 attendees.

Agenda of the meeting included the MELLPI Assistance to national contenders – Calapan City and Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; conduct of MELLPI Pro to barangays, municipalities, provinces, and to local nutrition workers; tentative MELLPI schedule of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team; update on e-OPT Tool; and the Proposal for Dietary Supplementation Program for Pregnant Women.

Considering the restrictions brought by COVID-19, the meeting aimed to determine appropriate actions for the conduct of Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro this year while ensuring compliance to LGU travel directives and health safety of everyone.

NPC Blanco further shared that NNC MIMAROPA is currently preparing a proposal for Dietary Supplementation Program for pregnant women as a result of their advocacy meeting with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. The number of pregnant women from the provinces and cities are being requested by the technical staff in preparation for its budgetary requirements. With high hopes, its approval will be beneficial in protecting the first 1000 Days of life by addressing malnutrition as early as during pregnancy.

At the end of the meeting, NPC Blanco thanked the NAOs for sparing their time to join the meeting and hoped to meet them face to face when the situation gets better. Also, she extended her message to the Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Health Workers to take extra care as they conduct the Operation Timbang Plus this quarter.

(BLVMEstrella)