25 January 2022, Cagayan de Oro City- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) X through Provincial Nutrition Focal Point (PNFP) Lizelle L. Bete conducted another set of Advocacy Meetings for Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) in Lanao del Norte Province.

Last 13 January, PNFP Bete paid a visit to the municipalities of Sapad and Nunungan, Lanao del Norte. Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and nutrition staff were present during the visit. Nutritionist Dietitian Deployment Project (NDDPs) Alzenjoan Icalina and Mitzilyn Brillo accompanied NNC X.

In Local Government Unit (LGU) Sapad, Mayor Paruk U. Asis expressed that the LGU will continually provide support to TK DSP implementation. During the dialogue, it was agreed that the LGU will implement the dry and wet feeding scheme; 1st month - dry, 2nd-6th month - wet on weekdays, dry on weekends. Relative to this, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Norisa Ibrahim responded that they will schedule a meeting together with NDDP Brillo and the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) of the recipient barangay to discuss plans and strategies on the upcoming implementation of the program. In addition, storage of the commodities will also be discussed during the meeting.

Furthermore, Municipal Mayor Marcos Mamay of Nunungan was present together with MNAO Fe Beduya and Public Health Nurse (PHN) Vic Stephen Grancina. Same with LGU Sapad, it was agreed to revise the feeding scheme to dry and wet feeding and to submit new Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to the NNC Regional Office to cater this revision. MNAO Beduya and PHN Grancina committed to conduct a meeting with the recipient barangay of the program to discuss strategies regarding the revised feeding scheme.

As the social preparation is underway, NNC X hopes to conduct more advocacy meetings to strengthen and gather more support for nutrition to address malnutrition problem among stunted and wasted children in Lanao del Norte Province. (PNFP Lizelle L. Bete)