Butuan City- Members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee and the Chairpersons and barangay nutrition scholars of the twenty barangays in the Municipality of Placer in Surigao del Norte attended the Forum on Investing Nutrition for Effective Local Governance on 21 November 2022 at the Multipurpose Hall, Barangay Magsaysay of this municipality.

The activity was warmly welcomed by Sangguniang Bayan on Health, Hon. Ruwill R. Febrero. In his message, he conveyed that the municipality has a number of malnourished children. The counterpart of the barangay and its officials is necessary.

During the forum, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Ruth Rivera shared the nutrition situation. In 2022, the municipality recorded 6.9% wasted, 21% stunted, 7.4% underweight, 57% prenatal check-up, 57% exclusive breastfeeding and 40% provision of folic acid and iron.

The presented indicators on malnutrition like stunting and wasting are all way above the cut off level of the World Health Organization, and indicators in PPAN 2017-2022 are far from its targets.  

National Nutrition Council Caraga, OIC, Dr. Nino Archie Labordo facilitated the activity with inputs on the importance of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) as the blueprint of programs and strategies of nutrition implementation.

He emphasized the importance of the functional Local Nutrition Committee and convergence of the different stakeholders and partners in the reduction of malnutrition.

The activity ended with an outpouring concern and support in shaping a better nutrition situation of Placer.

Commitments to reduce malnutrition were shared by the participants and discussion on how to implement such was facilitated.

The forum ended with more reflection and commitment to identify more relevant activities in 2023. #NASLabordo