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- Category: Region 5
In the meeting of the NNC Technical Committee last 20 August 2015, it was agreed that the First 1000 Days of Life will be the focus of next year’s Nutrition Month (NM) Celebration. Given the slow rate of reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition over the years, and the increasing prevalence of overnutrition, focusing on the First 1,000 Days of life will help address this double burden of malnutrition.
Highlighting the First 1,000 Days during Nutrition Month in July 2016 will create awareness on the importance of proper infant and young child feeding practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and giving appropriate complementary food after six months while continuing breastfeeding.
In line with this, the National Nutrition Council is conducting a contest for the 2016 NM theme and logo design along the First 1,000 Days of life.
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- Category: Region 5
Naga City BNS, Ms. Marilou A. Jimenez, topped the 3rd BNS Regional Nutri-Quiz Competition on 19 December 2011 held at Entertainment Plaza, Pacific Mall, Legazpi City. This is the 3rd straight year that Naga City BNS is the champion of the nutriquiz.
1st placer was BNS Mary Jane T. Macapagal of Barangay Tugos, Sorsogon City followed by BNS Eugenia O. Paa of San Fernando, Camarines Sur, prizes included microwave oven for the champion; turbo broiler for the 1st placer; and rice cooker for the 2nd placer.
Eleven (11) BNS from different provinces and cities of Bicol competed for the 3rd Regional Nutri-Quiz. Only Masbate province and city failed to send their contestants. Questions were on basic nutrition, general information and the 2011 Nutrition Month theme: “Isulong ang BREASTFEEDING-Tama, Sapat, at EKsklusibo”. The Board of Judges (BOJ) included: (1) Dr. Alejo S. Aralar-DOH-CHD Bicol; (2) Mr. Edgar S. Barrameda, DZGB; (3) Mr. Exequiel E. Baldo, DWZR- AM; (4) Mr. Jess Magayanes, DZRC-AM; and (5) Mrs. Purita L. Balean from the private sector.
The BNS Regional Nutri-Quiz competition is on its 3rd year since it was started in 2009 by the NUTRICOMNET (Nutrition Committee Network) Bicol and National Nutrition Council RO V. Other NUTRICOMNET Bicol agency members involved in this special event were DOH- Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) Bicol, POPCOM, DOST, Dep.ED, DILG, PNP, PIA, NSCB, SLM Advantage, PhiVolcs, and media friends from the following radio stations: DZGB, DWRC-AM and DWZR-AM.
Tired but happy, our BNS and their NAO or DCNPC coaches went home excited and ready for the next nutria quiz in 2012. DNPC Buere of Naga City vowed to remain as the Champion of next year’s quiz but other DCNPCs promised to beat Naga City next time.
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- Category: Region 5
As agreed during the 2nd Bicol Region Barangay Nutrition Scholars Association (BRBNSA) meeting last 3 June 2011, the officers and board of directors had their Basic Computer Literacy Training last 29-30 September 2011 at Jennifer’s Kababayan Hotel, Inc, Legazpi City. The training was held to (1) equip the BNS with basic knowledge on the proper use of computer, (2) create awareness of its importance to their function as Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and (3) enhance their skills in using Microsoft Office, and its application programs such as MS Word & MS Excel.
The National Nutrition Council Region V Staff led by Mr. Marvin J. Agripa (AA VI-JO) developed a training module for two days that contained all the necessary computer knowledge & skills basically needed by the BNS in the community. The program includes Mastery of the Microsoft Word to help them make presentable documentation report of their activities and Introduction to Microsoft Excel to help in consolidating Operation Timbang (OPT) data. Web surfing was also included to make our BNS globally competitive and technologically aware of how they could make use of this modern innovation as a tool for fast communication, research and networking.
During the first day's levelling of expectations, most of the Officers and Board of Directors confessed that they are aware of what a computer is but they never had a chance to touch or even open the laptop/desktop at home or office because of the fear that they might break this or delete important files in it. Grouped in twos, NNC V office provided each group with a laptop that they used throughout the training. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn was shown in the smile on their faces in every step of the learning process.
The dilemma however started when we introduced MS Word as most of them never had any background information on computer applications or the skill on how the program works. So, we revised the module and focused more on mastery of MS Word, Web surfing and sending of e-mails. NPC Reario agreed to have a part II of Basic Computer Literacy Training to include MS Excel and social networking.
As an output of the training, everyone wrote an article which contained their individual and group pictures which they sent to NNC V via e-mail. They went home proud and excited and ready to show to co-BNS and supervisors their newly acquired skill. They were all optimistic that this new knowledge and skill would enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in the community. They also hoped that their respective barangay chairperson or mayor will soon provide them their own computer.
Indeed, why not have a globally competitive and a techno-wiz BNS?
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- Category: Region 5
“SPOTTED: Mommy, Mama, Inay, and Me” on 3-8 October, 2011 at the Pacific Mall, Legazpi City
The MDG-F 2030’s photo exhibit on breastfeeding will be held on 3-8 October 2011 at Atrium of Pacific Mall, Legazpi City, The same activity was held at SM City Naga last 10-13 August 2011, in time for the celebration of Breastfeeding Month. This time, the exhibit will be held in partnership with Pacific Mall, City Government of Legazpi, Canon Southern Luzon, and Rotaract Club of Legazpi Central.The activity communicates the idea that a mother can breastfeed her child anywhere and anytime, and highlights the supportive environment moms need to help ensure that their children receive proper nutrition. The exhibit has presented breastfeeding as a natural, normative, positive and healthy part of everyday life at home, in the community, and in the workplace.
Photo Exhibit in SM City Naga Event Center
The Opening Event/Ribbon cutting for the Photo Exhibit last August 10, 2011, from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Event Center where the exhibit was also being held. It was such a successful event as evidenced by ribbon_cutting_copythe fact that the number of participants who graced the event exceeded the target. It was also attended by all members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Naga (Naga City Council), headed by Mayor John G. Bongat as well as Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado. All of the officials who attended particularly Mayor Bongat, Vice Mayor Bordado, the Mall Manager of SM expressed their support for the event and its objective i.e. to reach out to the general public on the benefits of breastfeeding.
There were 67 participants who attended the opening event on 10 August including city officials, staff from the City Population and Nutrition Office of Naga, CHD Region V represented by Dr. Carla Orozco, the Provincial Health Team of Camarines Sur, several barangay officials of Naga City, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) from Naga City, MNAO Pia Aquino of the municipality of Ragay, NNC Region 5 Staff led by Ms. Arlene Reario, and representatives of DOLE Camarines Sur.
Prior to the opening of the exhibit, several mall patrons were seen taking interest in the photos by themselves taking pictures of the captions and the photos; Some were also given copies of reading materials and the promotional fan made for the Nutrition Month last July.
SM Cares and SM City Naga provided the venue, sound system, lights, tables and chairs, and the photo panels used during the exhibit. Engineer Christian Wesley Villanueva, the Mall Manager of SM City Naga, not only attended the opening event and gave SM’s commitment to promote breastfeeding, but also appointed key persons to assist the team in organizing the event as well as the set up of the photo exhibit;
Ms. Arlene Reario, the RTWG Chair of MDGF 2030 in Region 5 and Mall Manager Villanueva were interviewed by local media, including the local stations of ABS CBN and GMA 7. The photo exhibit ran from August 10-13, at the Event Center, during mall hours.
Photo Exhibit
From the opening day up to the 13th of August (a Saturday), the CPNO stationed Peer Counselors in the exhibit grounds to provide counseling to breastfeeding mothers. According to Raquel Buere the Nutrition Officer of the City Population and Nutrition Office (CPNO), an average of 100 people sought counseling on a daily basis.
Accordingly, a total of 900 people have viewed the photo exhibit over the duration of four days that the exhibit were on display at the Event Center of SM City Naga, which means at least half of those who viewed the photos have been given counseling by the Peer Counselors of Naga City.
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- Category: Region 5
Yearly, the National Nutrition Council Bicol gives due recognition to local government units that have shown Outstanding Performance in managing their local nutrition programs, particularly in areas which have continuously sustained the reduction in undernutrition of both preschool and school children. Likewise, the NNC honors the Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) who have done exemplary performance in their respective barangays by doing extra ordinary activities that help uplift the nutritional status of their constituents.
In line with this, the National Nutrition Council in cooperation with the Regional Nutrition Committee once again will conduct the 2011 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at Hotel St. Ellis, Legazpi City on 19 December 2011 at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. The activity seeks to recognize Local Government Units (LGUs) performance in addressing malnutrition in their respective localities, as well as raise awareness on the Universal Health Care program or “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” of the Aquino Administration. Through this annual event, NNC hopes to encourage greater participation of LGUs in the eradication of malnutrition in the community for the nutritional improvement of the Bicolanos. Ms. Arlene Reario, Nutrition Program Coordinator for NNC Region 5 asserts that “at the core of effectiveness in implementing nutrition programs at the community level lies the support of local government units, so it is but fitting to recognize their effort so that we can encourage great participation of more LGUs in Bicol Region.”
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- Category: Region 5
Mrs. Marilou Canete said that her daughter is indeed a blessing to their family, when she gave birth last 02 September 2011. This was eleven days after she went through an evaluation process as a volunteer Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) for Barangay Concepcion Grande, Naga City, as part of the search for the Most Outstanding BNS being undertaken by National Nutrition Council (NNC). Malou as she is fondly called by her friends, won the National Outstanding BNS for 2010, an award given by the National Nutrition Council to Barangay Nutrition Scholars across the country. Her efforts in targeting clientele in the Barangay for the effective and efficient implementation of nutrition program with the support of the Barangay Nutrition Committee not only bear fruit for addressing malnutrition in her locality but also would ensure that her baby, along with the other infants in her Barangay would continuously be receiving support to ensure good nutrition.
In recognition of her outstanding performance, BNS Malou Canete will receive a trophy and cash award, a desktop computer-printer set given by AGHAM Partylist Representative Angelo Palmones. The recognition and awarding will take place on 25 October 2011 in Manila.
While Naga City had been National Nutrition Honor Awardee for nutrition program since 1996, the last time region 5 got the Outstanding BNS Award was 1998. Last year, Malou Canete was the 3rd runner up at the national level and had also been the Regional Outstanding Baranggay Nutrition Scholar for Region 5 for the past two years. Likewise, her home community has also been awarded the Model Breastfeeding Barangay, of Naga City.
Ms. Arlene Reario, the Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) of NNC Region V expressed gratitude for the support being extended by community partners, particularly LGU and Barangay Officials not only in the evaluation of BNS performance but the whole gamut of nutrition program implementation. “Programs and projects that seeks to develop capacities of partner stakeholders, would not have been possible if not for the support and relentless efforts of BNS volunteers like Malou Canete”, Ms. Reario said.