On March 30, 2021, Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte (ZDN) conducted their 1st Quarterly PNC Meeting at the PGO, Provincial Capitol, Dipolog City. The meeting was presided by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Designate, Ms. Nenita O. Maningo. The program started with an opening prayer by Hon. Roberto Y. Uy, the Provincial Governor of Zamboanga del Norte, followed by the acknowledgement of participants by PNAO staff Mr. Ariel T. Espiloa. The meeting was participated by 12 PNC members and representatives from different agencies (DOST, World Vision, and UNICEF), and Ms. Rowence F. Zorilla, the ECCD-F1K Provincial Nutrition Coordinator for Zamboanga del Norte (ZDS PNC) of the National Nutrition Council Region 9.
The agenda were presented by Ms. Nenita Maningo, PSWDO/ PNAO. The first agendum is the presentation of the Health and Nutrition Program of the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Agriculture’s Office, Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, and Department of Education. OIC-Provincial Health Office Dr. Esmeralda A. Nadela presented the Health and Nutrition Program Activities of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte for the 1st quarter of 2021. She presented the nutrition-specific and sensitive program activities. She said that Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) were distributed to target municipalities of KOICA: Leon B. Postigo, Sindangan, Godod, and Siayan. There were also provisions of health and nutrition commodities to 25 municipalities and 2 cities of Zamboanga del Norte. These include Iron Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate and Zinc. Ms. Nenita O. Maningo presented the nutrition Updates on Deep Dive and launching of 120 Days Supplemental Feeding Program in Poblacion North, Pinan, Zamboanga del Norte.
During the meeting, the Overview of Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementary Program was presented by ZDS PNC Zorilla. She discussed the importance of the First 1000 Days of child’s life as well as the prevalence of malnutrition especially stunting. Ms. Zorilla presented the objectives of Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program, the target program beneficiaries and other information with regards to the Tutok Kainan Program. Target beneficiaries of Tutok Kainan Program are pregnant women and children 6-23 months with priority to those who are nutritionally at-risk or undernourished. She also mentioned the 14 municipalities and cities included in the Complementary Feeding Program for 6-23 months old children. Preparations for the Launching of Tutok Kainan was also discussed with the Provincial Governor Hon. Roberto Y. Uy and other PNC members with its launching date subject to the finalization by the NNC.
-ZDN-PNC Rowence F. Zorilla
