1 February 2023, Cagayan de Oro City – The review of the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) is conducted annually to assess the program implementation of each year. Likewise, the reasons for deviation from the target were determined using the World Health Organization (WHO) Systems Building Blocks as the framework for analysis.
Last 25 January 2023, select Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) members and Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers (P/CNAOs) convened for the 2022 RPAN Plan Implementation Review held at Chali Resort and Conference Center, Cagayan de Oro City. A total 17 of participants attended the activity.
The activity highlights include the presentation of the current Regional Nutrition Situation and Regional Outcome Targets. In the conduct of the PIR workshop, the group was divided into two (2), the RNC and LGU group. The following workshop sessions were undertaken by each group: (1) Assessment of the RPAN 2019-2022, (2) Reasons for Deviation, and (3) Identifying Relevant Outcomes and Strategies to improve the local Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) implementation.
Majority of the programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) identified in the RPAN and Local Nutrition Action Plan of the LGUs were conducted and completed. However, there are targets that need further validation by select RNC agencies and LGUs.
In workshop 2, the group identified what are the factors that facilitated or hindered the nutrition program implementation. The presence of trained nutrition workers, availability of commodities and IEC materials, active involvement of partners, support of the Local Chief Executive (LCE) and Local Nutrition Committees, and local adoption of national/regional policies are among the listed factors that enable the accomplishment of targets. Meanwhile, the common reasons that hinder program implementation were limited budget, turnover of nutrition workers, insufficient supply of commodities, and delay in report submissions.
To catalyze actions for the achievement of the RPAN/PPAN 2023-2028, each group identified strategies to improve program implementation. These actions include the consistent provision of technical assistance to LGUs, issuance of local policies supporting nutrition programs, and conduct of capacity-building activities for health and nutrition workers. And to further mobilize the LGUs, advocacy meetings with LCEs and legislative bodies e.g., Sanggunian, Local Budget Officers, and other relevant partners along with other mobilization activities will be conducted.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC) Gladys Mae S. Fernandez informed that the new PPAN is set to be launched in July 2023. Thus, the local level plans need to be updated to align the identified PPAs to the new PPAN targets.
RNPC Fernandez attributed the successful implementation of the 2019-2022 RPAN to the dedication and hard work of the RNC member agencies and LGUs. Moreover, she invited everyone to renew their commitment and support, as the new PPAN/RPAN will take place, to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in Northern Mindanao. (Development Management Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631090198)
