9 June 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – In a video conferencing convened by National Nutrition Council X, a joint 1st semester meeting for the Regional Nutrition Committee, Regional Nutrition Cluster and RNC-Technical Working Group was held on 8 June 2021. This was attended by 21 member agencies, and presided by Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, in behalf of Dir. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr., CESO III of DOH Center for Health Development-Northern Mindanao Regional Director and Chair of the RNC X.
Dir. Llacuna gave a short message as an opening for the meeting, where he thanked the body for attending the meeting, and posed a challenge to continuously promote good nutrition. He also shared the current efforts of DOH CHD-NM to procure heightboards to be distributed to select LGUs in the region, recognizing the need for correct measuring tools in nutrition assessment. Dir. Llacuna delegated NPC Fernandez as the Presiding Officer as he has to attend other equally important appointments.
The first agenda was on the presentation and approval of seven (7) proposed RNC resolutions: 1) Expansion of RNC Membership to include Adventist Medical Center College and Central Mindanao University; 2) Adopting the LGU Mentoring Strategy for PPAN 2017-2022; 3) Reorganizing NorMIN Regional Shepherding Team; 4) Adoption of the Nutrition Cluster Advisories and Role of Nutrition Office during emergency situations; 5) Reiterating the “No Milk Donation Policy”; 6) Approval of Inclusion of Baybay Loguilo Rural Workers Association to RBATF X; and 7) Use of Updated eOPT Plus Tools. Having no other comments and revisions from the body, all seven resolutions were approved.
Nutrition Officer (NO) II Arlie Joy O. Damiles presented the initial consolidated results of the 2020 Program Implementation Review (PIR) of the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN). Highlighted in her presentation were the activities with accomplishments equal to or greater than 100%, and those that were not able to achieve the 2020 targets. She also identified the facilitating and hindering factors of such accomplishments of the RNC and LGUs.
The maiden dissemination of the regional results of the Nutrition Service Continuity Survey was facilitated by NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle. The consolidated results showed the extent to which Barangay Nutrition Scholars were capacitated on relevant trainings. The presentation also captured the response of 93 LGUs on the services they provided before and during the pandemic, nutrition innovations done during the pandemic, nutrition information and communication efforts, and distribution of food packs.
NPC Fernandez shared the latest calendar for the conduct of virtual and onsite monitoring and evaluation activities for LGUs and local nutrition workers, where the Nutrition Evaluation Team members took note of the schedules.
NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi discussed the 2021 Nutrition Month Campaign, in preparation for the annual July celebration. This year’s theme is “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 Days tutukan!”, which aims to do wider dissemination of the First 1000 Days, and to involve stakeholders in scaling up nutrition efforts during this golden window of opportunity.
Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie C. Barrio presented the updates of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP). She reiterated that the supplementation for pregnant women in Bukidnon areas completed the first 60 days and is currently put to a halt, due to the unavailability of iron-fortified rice and the need to prepare the fresh commodities. The program will resume upon the availability of the said commodities.
Lastly, NPC Fernandez presented the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP), an upcoming project which will be co-managed by NNC and DSWD. Included in her presentation were the project objectives, target areas, and implementation arrangements.
To cap off the meeting, a summary of meeting agreements was presented. The NNC X, as the Secretariat, is committed to follow-up agreements, and continue to coordinate with the different member agencies for varying program concerns. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)
