17 June 2021 -- National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA led the MIMAROPA Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) meeting series 2021 earlier held via Zoom Application. It was attended by 12 RBATF members and 5 NNC MIMAROPA staff.
The agenda of the meeting included the following: the importance of iodine in the first 1000 days of life; 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey; reports on the result of salt testing conducted by the LGUs and NNC regional office; and plans for the upcoming Salt Summit in MIMAROPA region.
The meeting started with an opening message of NPC Ma. Eileen B. Blanco where she highlighted that the need for strengthening the implementation of the Republic Act 8172 (ASIN Law) through National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP) for the compliance of the salt producers and manufacturers in Occidental Mindoro. Afterwards, Nutrition Officer II Bianca Estrella discussed the importance of iodine in the first 1000 days of life, consequences of which include growth and mental retardation for children, and miscarriage, stillbirth and increased morbidity and mortality of infants for pregnant women.
Nutrition Officer I Nichole Loyola comprehensively explained the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey from DOST-FNRI data which showed inadequate intake of iodine tested through levels of urinary iodine concentration in pregnant women from 2013 to 2019. Results also showed that less than 70% of Filipino households were unaware of the importance of iodized salt. Ms. Luzvimin Atienza of FDA raised a concern on the limited to no information dissemination in the present time on the importance of iodized salt in the LGUs. As a response, Nutrition Officer I Ace Patriarca cited that NNC MIMAROPA will create its own information, education, and communication materials on iodized salt as one step to increase awareness on the advocacy of NSIP.
Salt testing results from the submitted report of Occidental Mindoro, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro and from the salt samples which tested by NNC MIMAROPA from Bataraza, Palawan and Marinduque were shared by NO I Patriarca. This was followed by a discussion on the proposed program of activities for the Salt Summit which will be conducted online via Zoom application in September 2021. The objective of the summit is to rectify and address the problem in insufficiency of iodine in salts that were being produced and delivered not only in MIMAROPA but to other parts of the country, as well.
NNC MIMAROPA will continuously strengthen and increase the advocacy and awareness on NSIP to eliminate IDD not only in the region but to other regions where Occidental Mindoro supplies the salt to other regions.
(AVETP)
