BUTUAN CITY – The Center for Health Development Caraga Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Cluster conducted profiling and NCD risk assessment on February 8-10, 2023 at the Leaders Hall, DOH-CHD Caraga Office, Butuan City.  

The 3-day activity focuses on evaluating the current health status of office staff with provision of appropriate counselling and management.

Included in the risk assessment are data gathering to include family history, diet history and food preferences, anthropometric measurements, specific laboratory values. Another assessment was included to determine the probability of related heart diseases and developing NCDs based on specific chemical levels present in the body.

The activity provided necessary management based on the risk level and findings, particularly on prescribed medications and lifestyle modification through developing a healthier diet and weight management via Nutrition Counselling.

Rendering free Nutrition Counselling during the 3-day activity were DMOII Marie Angelie S. Fernandez, RND, and DMOII Jann Abigail O. Portillas, nutritionist dietitians from the National Nutrition Council Caraga along with the RNDs of DOH-CHD Caraga Nutrition Program.

RNDs are able to cater to specific diet concerns among clients depending on the underlying conditions. Effects of food intake, particularly on the quality and quantity of food items, were discussed. Hence, participants were informed that good nutrition combined with consistent physical activity are some key factors in reducing the risk of developing NCDs.

Queries regarding diet, specifically the ones posted and shared on the social media were answered during the counselling sessions. Effects of practicing FAD diets such as Keto Diet, Intermittent Fasting, and others for weight loss were also addressed by counsellors.

The activity served as an eye opener for most of the employees. A lot were enlightened about the correlation between good nutrition and development of NCDs. Motivated to practice a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness are the keen goal of this activity. #MAFernandez