Spearheading the 10 Kumainments Nutrition School on the Air (10K-NSOA) Program, the National Nutrition Council Regional Office IX was able to increase the program’s graduates by 60% on its second year. The 10K-NSOA is a module that brings correct and timely nutrition information to the public through a radio program that encourages listeners to register/enroll and participate in the weekly airing of the 10 Kumainments module. In partnership with the Nutrition Action Officers of Dipolog City and Zamboanga Sibugay, who served as anchor persons the modules are discussed just like in the classroom where they act as the teacher with the listeners as the students. The enrolled listeners are given short quizzes after each module and graduate after completing the twelve sessions. The second year of the NSOA program was aired in Dipolog City and in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay from August to November. A total of 110 graduates successfully completed the 10 Kumainments-NSOA these among others who did not enrol but merely listened to the program. The NNC believes that radio continues to be the medium of choice to access information as it reaches many remote places in the country and families.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by the Local Chief Executive of Dipolog City, Mayor Darrel Dexter Uy who expressed his gratitude for the NNC’s program and continued support in providing the importance of nutrition information to his constituents.
The Provincial DILG Director in the provincial capital of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay was the guest of honor during the graduation. He encouraged the graduates to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to influence other members of the family, relatives and neighbours about good nutrition, saying if one graduates, he or she can influence 5. Therefore the 67 graduates can make the entire community healthy.
The NNC is encouraged with positive feedback from the graduates. To quote a few, Mr. Ian Paul O. Collera of Dicayas Dipolog City a 30 years old house-father and the only male graduate in Dipolog City shared “sa pakikinig ko sa NSOA ako ay natuto nang tamang pag-alaga sa aming baby, ang pag-prepare nang kanyang pagkain. Nakatulong sa aming pamilya dahil ako bilang isang ama na naiiwan sa bahay at ng mga anak ko, habang ang asawa ko ang nag oopis” According to him he was encouraged by his wife to register in the NSOA as he regularly tunes in to the program as a listener. The NSOA he said “nagbibigay sa akin ng kaalaman sa basic information sa nutrisyon kagaya sa pagpakain ng gulay para sa mga bata at bakit dapat magpapasuso ang ina sa kanyang baby.”
In the NSOA graduation, Ms. Nely D. Enong of Barangay Malagadis of Titay, a mother, who topped as First Honor among her classmates also expressed her appreciation of the people who anchored the NSOA and said that the program is very helpful to her and her neighbours. Listening as a group of mothers they learned about good nutrition, interact with each other as well as share experiences of how they care for their families. Joining the NSOA widened their understanding of the importance of breastfeeding and proper feeding of children to attain good nutrition. They also learned the importance of eating healthy such as why they have to go slow on fatty, salty and sweet foods. She expressed hope that the NNC will still continue with the NSOA and they will encourage other mothers, families and neighbors to join the program to learn nutrition and apply the information in their family lifestyles.
