The long wait is over. The Tutok Kainan will finally push through to continue the advocacy to end the stunting problem in the country. On March 12, 2021, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) conducted an orientation on the Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program through Google virtual meet as the COVID-19 protocol should be strictly followed. It was headed by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Nimfa D. Ekong together with Nutrition Officer III Elton Peligrino, Program Nutrition Coordinator for ZDN Marie-Claire Gaas, Nutrition Officer I Cielo Katrina Mabalot, and Zhalimar Patulada to disseminate the Tutok Kainan guidelines.
The activity was attended by thirty-three (33) participants among these were Municipal Vice-Mayor Hon. Roberto Intol of Malangas and Municipal Mayor Hon. Arthur Rustre Sr. of Olutanga together with eight (8) SB Committee Chairpersons, one (1) DNPC, one (1) PNAO, twelve (12) MNAOs, seven (7) NC/NS, and one (1) NDDP. This meeting/orientation was called purposely to provide updates to the target LGU beneficiaries on the timeline of the program and to discuss the guidelines of the Tutok Kainan: DSP focusing on the prevention of stunting among children 0-23 months old by improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intake along with the utilization of ECCD F1KD services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 6-23 months old in the target areas.
During the orientation, NO III Elton Pelegrino discussed the criteria as to the selection process in prioritizing provinces to be included in the program. This includes 1) PPAN Priority Provinces that have high prevalence of malnutrition, 2) cases of teenage pregnancy, and 3) based on the level of poverty incidence and magnitude according to the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC). In the region, Zamboanga del Norte qualifies in the 3 criteria thus included in the provinces with the highest priority. Among the 2nd priority provinces is Zamboanga del Sur for being included in high teenage pregnancy and HDPRC. On the other hand, Zamboanga Sibugay is of 3rd priority for having only 1 qualifying criterion which is the PPAN priority province. Included in the discussion, is that nutritionally at-risk (NAR) pregnant women should be fed for 90 days and 180 feedings calendar days for 6-23 months undernourished children with dry feeding for the first month and wet feeding or hot meals for the succeeding months. NO III Pelegrino reiterates providing a safe place to store the commodities used for the feeding program to ensure proper food storage as safety precaution to avoid food contamination.
PNC Marie-Claire Gaas discussed the NNC Memorandum No. 2020 series 2020 (Tutok Kainan Guidelines) with the program manager, local chief executives, P/C/MNAOs, D/C/MNPCs, other members of the LNCs and other government functionaries in NNC’s Tutok kainan program areas as the target user of this guidelines. PNC Gaas also imparted all points in the guidelines. Afterwhich, the memorandum of understanding was presented by NO III Pelegrino emphasizing the roles and duties of the NNC and the beneficiary LGU in the implementation of the program.
Before the meeting ended Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Nimfa D. Ekong quoted the Call to Action of NNC ED Dayanghirang as follows: “TUTOK” which means to “Tap all relevant partners from the government, LGUs, academe, CSA, business, UN and development partners to support programs for pregnant women and children 6-23 months”, “Upgrade way of doing business”, “Trigger additional investment in the LGU investment and development plan”, “Organize the stakeholders involved in the supply-demand food chain for impact and sustainability” and lastly, “Kakayanin basta sama-sama”. As a concluding remarks, RNPC Ekong emphasized that the success of the program really depends on the selfless dedication and strong commitment of the program implementers most especially the focal persons in the LGU and barangay level. With this, NNC commits giving them timely technical support and monthly load allowances along with other assistance that NNC can provide. Together, let us end the problem of malnutrition.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
