On March 25, 2021, the National Nutrition Council Region IX (NNC9) conducted its Provincial Meeting with Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) of Zamboanga del Norte (ZDN) at Mibang Hotel, Dipolog City to provide updates on the developments of the nutrition program and to further discuss the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program. Provincial level meeting of NAOs is NNC9’s strategy to limit the number of participants in observance of the COVID-19 protocols. The event was spearheaded by Ms. Nimfa D. Ekong, the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC) of NNC9. The meeting was participated by City/Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, District/City/Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinators, Nutrition Office Aides and the Health and Nutrition Liaison Coordinator-UNICEF in the province.
In her welcome remarks, RNPC Ekong shared some updates on Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program. She mentioned that the office of Honorable Senator Imee Marcos supplemented the program with 100 million pesos funds allocation thus, there are 14 selected municipalities/cities to be included in the Complementary Feeding Program of Children 6-23 months old. The 14 municipalities/cities that will be covered are Siayan, Godod, Mutia, Sergio Osmena, Jose Dalman, Katipunan, La Libertad, Roxas, Polanco, Rizal, Pinan, Sibutad, Dapitan City and Dipolog City.
During the meeting, Nutrition Officer III Mr Elton Pelegrino presented the new e-OPT Plus Tools for regular e-OPT and for Acute Malnutrition. He also imparted updates on MELLPI Pro, shared the 2021 Nutrition Month Campaign Strategies, and discussed the nutrition forms and deliverables. Tutok Kainan Guidelines was also presented in the meeting by ZDN-Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Rowence F. Zorilla. Before the meeting ended, Mr. Lemuelle Moninio, the ZDN Health and Nutrition Liaison Coordinator of UNICEF was given time to provide nutrition updates on KOICA areas and the availability of nutrition commodities such as RUTF and RUSF. He mentioned that said commodities are already available at the DOH-Center for Health and Development IX (DOH-CHD9) and are ready for distribution. He requested that LGUs identify and report the number of SAM and MAM cases in their respective locality for the allocation of commodities.
The meeting concluded with the distribution of planners, organizers, MUAC tapes for pregnant and children, and PPAN advocacy jackets for the LCEs from NNC9.
PNC ZDN Rowence F. Zorilla
