The National Nutrition Council Regional Office 09 convenes the members of the Regional Technical Working Group-Nutrition Evaluation Team (RTWG-NET) during its 1st Quarter Meeting held at L’ Meridian Suites, Zamboanga City on 13 March 2020. The objectives of the meeting which was presided by OIC-NPC Nimfa D. Ekong of NNC RO IX were to present and discuss the following: 2019 OPT Plus results, Plans for 2020 Nutrition Month Celebration, Re-orient the members on the updated MELLPI Pro tool and to be updated on the teenage pregnancy in Region 09. During the meeting social distancing was observed among the members to comply with the directive to help prevent the spread of COVID19.
Ms. Zhalimar Jakaria-Patulada presented the 2019 OPT Plus results wherein its coverage registered at 83.0% weighing a total of 338,479 out of the estimated 407,726 0-59 months old children comparing to last year’s coverage of 75.0%. The province of Zamboanga del Sur yielded the highest prevalence of underweight, stunted, and overweight and obese children with 6.7%, 12.6%, and 2.6% respectively, while Zamboanga del Norte yielded the highest prevalence of wasted with 4.4%. Overall, the City of Dipolog has the lowest prevalence of underweight, stunted, wasted, overweight and obese children with 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. On the other hand, it was noted that Pagadian City has the lowest OPT Plus coverage of almost only 40% which can be attributed to the non-submission of reports by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars.
Following the sequence of the agenda, OIC-NPC Ekong presented the 2020 Nutrition Month theme “ Batang Pinoy SANA TALL… Iwas stunting, SAMA ALL” and asked the members of the RTWG-NET for suggestions on the plans and activities to be conducted as regional activities. In the discussion it was suggested that the secretariat will coordinate with the Zamboanga City Nutrition Committee on the launching of the 2020 Nutrition Month Celebration if a joint regional and city launching will be possible with a motorcade to create awareness among the general population. Other suggested activities were as follows: conduct of thematic symposium in the three provinces, nutrition counseling, exhibit of complementary food products and cooking demonstration, distribution of flyers and other services that has something to do with the different stages of the first 1000 days.
Since there were revisions on the previous MELLPI PRO tool, the members were re-oriented on on the key features and changes of the different elements and dimensions of the new tool. Further, it was mentioned during the meeting that there were two National Contenders in the region for 1st and 2nd CROWN Maintenance which are Dipolog City and the municipality of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay respectively. Schedule for regional conduct of MELLPI Pro was not yet finalized due to the suspension in the conduct of the activity because of the situation we are facing now regarding the spread of the COVID19.
Finally, updates on the teenage pregnancy in Region 09 was presented by Mr. Jose Augustus Villano of POPCOM. In his presentation for 2019, there were 895 teenage pregnancies in Zamboanga del Norte; 1,341 in Zamboanga del Sur; 870 in Zamboanga Sibugay; 143 in Dapitan City; 709 in Dipolog City; 429 in Pagadian City; 267 in Isabela City; and 1,763 in Zamboanga City. In order to lessen these, POPCOM implemented interventions and strategies to prevent teenage pregnancies across the region including the Adolescent Health and Development Program (ADHD). This aims to set up teen centers in every city, municipality and schools, optimize new information and communication technologies to reach out to adolescent in online and digital media, partnering with media and relevant institutions to regulate access of adolescent to porn, and a lot more.
Since it was noted in the presentation that the use of radio ranked second where adolescents get information , OIC-NPC Ekong suggested to the resource person to give materials for airing in the radio since the National Nutrition Council has established four (4) Nutriskwela Community Radio which can help disseminate information on teenage pregnancy not only to adolescents but to the general public.
AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot
