National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA holds the 1st Regional Nutrition Committee and Nutrition Cluster Joint Meeting, s. 2021 on 27 May 2021 via Zoom video conference. The meeting attended by 20 members and representatives from the 16 regional line agencies and was presided by NPC Ma. Eileen Blanco on behalf of RNC Chair Dr. Mario Baquilod.
The meeting was highlighted with the approval by principle of RNC Resolution No. 1: Resolution Enjoining Local Government Units of MIMAROPA to Adopt the MELLPI PRO in Monitoring the Local Nutrition Action Plan (LNAP) Implementation and Performance of Nutrition Workers, institutionalizing the use of MELLPI Pro as monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
Further, thorough discussion and agreements arose on RNC Resolution No. 2 which enjoins Local Government Units (LGUs) in MIMAROPA to organize nutrition clusters at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels while ensuring its functionality during emergencies and disasters before its approval by referendum.
Ms. Cherry Ann Candava from Center for Health and Development MIMAROPA provided updates on the COVID-19 situation in the region while Dr. Mathew Medrano shared reports of the COVID-19 vaccination as of 26 May 2021 with 94% first dose vaccination coverage and 38% complete vaccination coverage among healthcare workers. Dr. Medrano shared that MIMAROPA is one of the top regions with good vaccination roll-out despite of its geographical situation.
Furthermore, NO III Camille Chen discussed an overview of the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project: Kasapatan at Ugnayan ng Mamamayan sa Akmang Pagkain at Nutrisyon (KUMAIN) which supports the national government to adopt a bold, multi-sectoral nutrition approach to deliver a coordinated package of nutrition-specific and nutrition- sensitive interventions across the various LGU platforms together with a harmonized social behavior change and communication strategy. The project will run for four years from 2022 to 2025 nad part of its target areas are the 7 municipalities in Occidental Mindoro and Romblon.
Updates on the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program in Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro, and on the Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days of Life Program in Occidental Mindoro were also provided by NO I Ace Patriarca and PNC Erik Bacena.
At the end of the half day meeting, NPC Blanco expressed her gratitude to the members and representatives of the regional nutrition committee and hoped to meet them again in person once pandemic situation eases.
(BLVMEstrella)
