25 January 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – A virtual updating meeting was conducted on 22 January 2021 via Zoom to convene Nutrition Action Officers, District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, nutrition office staff and Nutritionist-Dietitians under the Department of Health. The meeting was held to provide the nutrition workers with updates and developments on the nutrition programs.
A total of 140 nutrition workers attended the virtual meeting organized by the National Nutrition Council Region X.
Prior to the meeting, the attendees offered a prayer for the late Ms. Hygeia Ceres Catalina "Jigay" B. Gawe who was the Officer-in-Charge of the Nutrition Policy & Planning Division of NNC.
Ms. Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, Nutrition Program Coordinator, delivered the Opening Remarks where she presented the overview of the meeting.
The updating proper commenced with the 2021 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus updates discussed by Nutrition Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles where she emphasized NNC Memorandum No. 2020-010. The memorandum provides the interim guidelines in the conduct of OPT Plus and other similar monitoring activities in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. She also informed the body on the use of the 2021 DOH Projected Population for estimating the population for children under five years old. Video demonstrations on how to do weight, height/length and mid-upper arm circumference measurements were shown to remind the nutrition workers of the correct procedures of nutrition assessment. Lastly, she advised the local government units that the NNC Central Office is yet to release an updated e-OPT Plus tool.
NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle encouraged all LGUs to update the 4Ws tool to document what activities have been done in response to COVID-19, including data on the implementers, and the dates and areas of implementation. LGUs may send their inputs via text for the 4Ws. A demonstration was shown to all participants for better comprehension.
LGUs were also reminded of the submission of 2020 2nd semester nutrition reports. NO II Damiles presented the list of provinces and cities with submission of the said nutrition reports. She reminded those without submissions to still send their reports for consolidation.
NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi shared to the group the summary of requests for assistance for the Barangay Nutrition Scholars, covering the requests received by NNC X since June 2020. Out of eight requests received for medical assistance, five cheques have been released. For the traveling allowance, out of 13 requests, eight of them have been issued with cheques. NO I Villasi reminded the nutrition workers of the complete documentary requirements for the requests, and for the LGUs to send via email to NNC X the soft copies for review before sending the files via courier.
NO I Villasi continued by informing the body on the IEC materials distributed to provinces, cities and municipalities, including the jackets for the local chief executives. She requested the NAOs of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte areas to send NNC X a photo of their LCE donning the jacket on or before 3 February 2021.
Ms. Stephanie C. Barrio, Provincial Nutrition Coordinator of the Early Childhood Care & Development – First 1000 Days Program, discussed updates on the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program. Her updates include the food rations to be provided to the target beneficiaries in select Bukidnon LGUs, as well as the ongoing efforts and coordination being done with the said areas. She emphasized that the start date of the implementation of the program is still to be determined by NNC Central Office.
NPC Fernandez shared the upcoming activities of NNC X, especially those that would need the participation of LGUs. Some of these activities include the conduct of meetings and conferences for the regional associations, and LGU mobilization activities. Monitoring and evaluation activities are also expected to resume within the year, guidelines are yet to be issued by NNC CO.
NO III Talle presented the 2021 Regional Webby Awards for LGUs where LGUs and local nutrition committees with Facebook pages may participate. This is to recognize the efforts of LGUs in disseminating relevant nutrition information through digital media. NO III Talle also shared the staff assignments for NNC X technical staff for reference by the nutrition workers. Lastly, she reminded the Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte areas of their 2020 nutrition budget utilization and updates on their 2021 annual investment program.
The Open Forum served as the last part of the meeting to cater the queries and clarifications of the participants. Following the conduct of the meeting, it is expected that the LGUs will be able to apply and work on the updates presented, particularly that of the OPT Plus. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)
