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- Category: Region Caraga
Read more: Agusan del Sur LGU receives nutrition commodities
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur- The commodities for acute malnourished children, the ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), or supplies for nutrition are now with the barangays and municipalities of Agusan del Sur as these commodities are important to improve the nutritional status of children under 5 years old.
Delivered by the Department of Health, the said commodities are arranged for distribution by the Provincial Nutrition Office, headed by PNAO Laniebelle Anchangco, to the different local government units in the province before the end of February 2022.
The RUTF is a peanut-based paste that is energy-dense, mineral- and vitamin-enriched food that does not require any preparation or refrigeration. This is a ready-to-eat food in a packet, which means it doesn’t have to be mixed with potentially contaminated water.
Multivitamins with iron for pregnant women will help mothers to prepare their body during and after pregnancy. It also helps in the development of the baby in their wombs.
On the other hand, supplementation of vitamin A reduces the morbidity and mortality of the child as it aids normal vision, improves the immune system and helps the organs work properly.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Read more: Breastfeeding and the First 1,000 days for healthy Mommy- Baby and beyond
The First 1000 Days is the “golden window of opportunity” to prevent stunting and cut the generational cycle of malnutrition starting from pregnancy, first 6 months, and up to 2 years of life. Correlating to that, nutrition during infancy is a crucial period for the formation of the brain, laying the foundation for the development of cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional skills throughout childhood and adulthood. Nutritional deficiencies during infancy are likely to affect cognition, behavior, and productivity throughout the school years and adulthood. Undernutrition in the First 1000 Days is largely irreversible, particularly in intellectual performance and can be fatal. Thus, babies at this stage need proper nutrition for rapid growth and development.
As stipulated in the Kumainment No. 2, “Sa unang 6 months ni baby, breastfeeding lamang; mula 6 months, bigyan din siya ng ibang angkop na pagkain. Breastmilk (no formula, juice, or water) as the baby’s first food has basic essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as water to keep her hydrated. It is not an ordinary food – it has more value than nutrition alone such as antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties, and live antibodies from the mother. A healthy and varied diet during lactation ensures adequate maternal nutrition and optimal concentration of some nutrients in human milk. Exclusive breastfeeding meets the nutritional needs of infants for 6 months of life but exclusion of vitamins D and K, which should be given as supplements.
Aside from the baby’s nutrition, lactating mothers should also have adequate nutrition. The Pinggang Pinoy™ for pregnant mothers and lactating women, a healthy food plate that was developed by DOST – FNRI can be used as a guide to the right food group proportions per meal basis to meet energy nutrient needs.
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- Category: Region Caraga
The National Nutrition Council-Caraga participates in strengthening the awareness and importance of good oral health as we celebrate the 2022 National Oral Health Month with the theme: “Brushing is a MUST. Kahit naka-MASK."
A healthy mouth goes hand in hand with a healthy body. According to Department of Health (DOH), dental caries can adversely affect the overall nutrition necessary for the growth of the body specifically body weight and height.
Here are some tips for looking after your oral health: regular and proper tooth brushing, regular visits to the dentist for early detection, treatment, and preventive care and stay hydrated.
The 10 Kumainment, the localized version of Nutritional Guidelines for FIilipinos encourages us to consume milk, milk products, and other calcium-rich food such as small fish and shellfish every day for healthy bones and teeth.
Limiting intake of salty, fried, fatty, and sugar-rich foods which is emphasized in Kumainment number 8 do not only prevent cardiovascular diseases and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases but as well help prevent dental caries, gum damage, and/or oral cancer.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Surigao City-The Provincial Nutrition Cluster cum Proviincial Nutrition Committee of Surigao del Norte convened for its First Meeting after Typhoon Odette on 8 February 2022 to present the situational report of Surigao del Norte and related activities at the Governor’s Office Lobby, Provincial Capitol, Surigao City.
Dr. Nino Archie Labordo introduced the two Information Management Officers who will be deployed in Surigao Mainland and Siargao Island respectively. He also presented the results of the Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment conducted by the NNC Team in January 2022.
Each member agency provided their updates on the nutrition related services given. Ms. Ruby Lagahit, the Provincial Agriculturist said they have already started distributing vegetable seeds in Siargao and she will find a way that the goat’s milk production of the province will be able to return its operations. This can help provide fresh milk for the supplementary feeding program of children. Dr. Labordo reiterated on the NNC advisory on including fresh products such as fish, egg, vegetables and root crops for those groups who will be providing relief goods to households.
Dr. Arlene Felizarta of the Provincial Health Office shared about the ongoing dental services specially to children as oral health also affects the nutritional status of children. She also informed the committee members that a nutritionist dietician oversees the volunteer groups providing blanket feeding to areas in Siargao. This is to ensure the nutritional value of the food being served to the children.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Read more: Information Management Officers orients on Nutrition Cluster response
Butuan City--The National Nutrition Council Caraga, led by Dr. Niño Archie Labordo, held an orientation for three Information Management Officers (IMOs) on February 04, 2022 at NNC Caraga Office who would be deployed to the ravaged areas of Typhoon Odette in the region.
The orientation highlighted the importance of Nutrition in Emergencies. This will ensure the availability of pre-emergency nutrition data that will provide baseline information for target figures in planning nutrition cluster responses and resources. In addition, this data will also provide guidance for the development of surveys/assessments, including minimum standards. Dr Labordo briefed the IMO’s on the regional nutrition cluster response plans and target activities for 6 months and how it should be utilized to harmonize the implementation of nutrition services on the ground. Further, he emphasized the importance of monitoring and assisting LGUs in order to accurately carry out the implementation of Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM), Micronutrient Powder (MNP), Proper Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) taking and e-OPT tool.
Reliable information, good management and planning play a critical role in every program, project, and activity that is to be implemented. Thus, NNC partnership with UNICEF was urged to hire three Information Management Officers that will take charge in managing and maintaining databases, information catalogues, and provide assistance in the delivery of nutrition services to the Province of Dinagat Islands, Surigao Mainland and Siargao Island subsequently.
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- Category: Region Caraga
The National Nutrition Council released recently the updated Electronic Operation Timbang Plus Regular Tools for Large Barangays and for Community Levels and for the Acute Malnutrition Tools for Large Barangays and Community Level. For Caraga Region, tools are available for download through this link: https://nnc.gov.ph/component/phocadownload/category/10
The eOPT Plus Tool is a tool for consolidating measurements at the Barangay Level from the Operation Timbang Plus Activities and for the use of nutrition workers in the community to help them consolidate and summarize the results of OPT Plus among children 0-59 months old. The e-OPT Tool runs on MS Excel version 2007 or later. Full functionality of the tool requires a licensed version of MS Excel.
New features of the eOPT tool includes:
- This update now includes auto-fill of population data in the Summary worksheet, as well as the auto-labelling of the Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) for each barangay. Population data (i.e. total barangay population, 0-59 months children) are from DOH - Epidemiology Bureau estimates for 2021.
- The counts of mothers/caregivers of children classified as having undernutrition as well as overweight and obesity have been included in the Summary. This counts the number of mothers/caregivers who have at least one child whose nutritional status falls below the lower cut-offs for normal WFA, HFA, or WFL/H and those who have children classified as overweight or obese (WFA or WFL/H). These counts are intended to help LGUs in nutrition program planning.
Note: if a mother/caregiver has more than one child affected, she/he is counted only once.
- A count of the number of children with either the weight or height measurement missing or those with incomplete information has been included in the Summary. For 'incomplete information', this reflects the number of children who are missing any of the following: home address, name of mother/caregiver, IP status, sex, date of birth, or date of measurement. To help users in spotting the children with missing details in the 'Nut_StatusTool', the name is flagged with a gray colored cell in the 'Child Seq.' column (Column A). Also,iIf any of these information (except for home address) are not filled in, this will result in non-appearance of the child's nutritional status.
- Additional columns have been added for children 0-23 months old in the Summary table to show the total number and prevalence in each of the three nutritional status indices WFA, HFA, and WFL/H.
- The tally of children belonging to indigenous peoples (IP) groups according to their nutritional status classification in each of the three indices has been added to the summary table. The total presented is also disaggregated by sex.