Butuan City- In a recently concluded Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC), local government units (LGUs) in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands are this year recipient of the nutrition awards organized by the National Nutrition Council Caraga on 20 December 2021 at LJ Mega Convention Hall, Butuan City.

Included is the list under the LGUs with above 80% Coverage of the 2021 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT+) are the municipalities of Burgos, Claver, Dapa, del Carmen, General Luna, Mainit, Malimono, Pilar, San Isidro, and Sison all in the Province of Surigao del Norte. On the other hand, the municipalities of Cagdianao and Libjao in the Province of Dinagat Islands also recorded a high OPT+ coverage this year.

Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus is the annual weighing and height measurement conducted during the first quarter of the year conducted to all preschoolers 0-59 months old or below five years old in a community to identify and locate the malnourished children. A coverage of more than 80% of the 0-59 months children’s population will give a better scope to the nutritional status of children.

Meanwhile, two (2) of the hardly hit municipalities Burgos and del Carmen in Siargao Islands in the Province of Surigao del Norte received an award for the LGUs with low Level of stunting prevalence rate <10% WHO Cut Off in the 2021 operation timbang.

The data generated from the OPT+ is useful in the local nutrition action planning, particularly in quantifying the number of malnourished and identifying who will be given priority interventions in the LGU.

The above mentioned LGUs are currently on state of emergency due to the ravaged of Super typhoon Odette on 16 December 2021.#NASLabordo