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- Category: Region 10
19 May 2020, Cagayan de Oro City- The rapid spread of coronavirus disease commonly known as COVID-19 is affecting all populations globally. Its continuing crisis demands all health workers, allied health, uniformed personnel, and volunteers to unite and help each other in combatting the pandemic. The call on serving people affected by the virus did not only limit to individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 but existing assistance to the public in distress due to declared community quarantine.
Together with health and nutrition workers, the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) relentlessly render their service and act their responsibility as the frontliners in providing nutrition to each individual on reach. The released Nutrition Cluster Advisory Nos. 1 and 2, s.2020 emphasize recommendations to LGUs for nutrition actions and healthy and nutritious food practices amid the COVID-19 situation. As stated in the advisories, LGUs are to prioritize areas with high rates of nutritionally at-risk children aged 0-59 months old, and pregnant and lactating women to be monitored as vulnerable groups. As nutrition workers, BNSs with the supervision of their Nutrition Action Officers, District/City Nutrition Program coordinators and Barangay Nutrition Committee Chairpersons, aid in ensuring that the two (2) advisories issued are being delivered promptly. Nutrition Cluster Advisory Nos. 1 and 2.
Read more: NorMin BNSs: Championing Nutrition amidst COVID-19
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- Category: Region 10
18 May 2020 – With the ongoing battle with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the disease has disrupted the normal setup of our day to day living—movements are restricted, employees work from home, some undergo temporary unemployment and physical contact with families and acquaintances is lacking. And in facing the uncertainties of our current setting, many are anxious, stressed, afraid and worried.
According to the World Health Organization, fear, worry, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown.
Added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19 are the significant changes to our daily lives, it is important that we look after our mental, as well as our physical, health.
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- Category: Region 10
27 April 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – The first Regional Nutrition Cluster teleconference was held on 24 April 2020, 1:00 – 5:00 PM, with nine (9) core members attending the meeting organized and facilitated by National Nutrition Council X headed by NPC Gladys Mae S. Fernandez. Regional offices of DOH, DA, DILG, DOST, DSWD, DTI, BFAR, PIA and DAR were represented by Technical Working Group members.
The virtual meeting was primarily conducted to ensure that regional plans, programs and activities for nutrition are still in place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to address the concerns raised by the local government units. Prior to the main business of the meeting, NPC Fernandez informed the body that only the core members of the Regional Nutrition Cluster were invited. She further reiterated the role of the nutrition cluster and the need to convene the meeting to gather updates, address concerns and coordinate activities accordingly.
The meeting focused on the following agenda: 1) Nutrition Advisories: a) Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, s.2020 and b) Executive Order 51; 2) Nutrition Actions of LGUs and Regional Nutrition Cluster member agencies in response to COVID-19 pandemic, including the challenges and actions taken; 3) Regional Nutrition Cluster Plan (next steps) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: Regional Nutrition Cluster X ensures nutrition responses in place
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- Category: Region 10
COVID-19, just like any other pandemic that the world encountered back then, continues to claim lives across the globe. According to Johns Hopkins University, there has been over 301,000 recorded deaths worldwide due to the disease as of 15 May 2020.
Reports show that immunocompromised individuals are theoretically more susceptible to develop severe illness from COVID-19.
So what does it mean once a person is immunocompromised? Why do they need to take extra layers of precautionary measures in these trying times? How can we keep them well despite the threats that this pandemic brings?
Let’s start by knowing the basics.
Immunocompromised or immune deficient individuals are those people whose immune system has a reduced ability to restrain and recover from infections. A person can become immunocompromised due to factors such as having a specific chronic conditions like cancer, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hepatitis, autoimmune diseases, and congenital disorders, or by taking certain medications (e.g. chemotherapy and post-organ transplant medications), which affect the immune system. This could also be due to reasons such as aging, malnutrition, extensive burns, tobacco smoking, alcoholism, stress and pregnancy. With weakened immunity, these individuals are more likely to get sick and in longer duration, and are more vulnerable to different types of infections.
Read more: Immunocompromised? Here’s what you need to Know to Stay Well!
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- Category: Region 10
When going to the grocery store, consumer usually prepares a checklist of food items. Picking a food item is easy but choosing the right one is a skill that consumers need to develop. They often select food items based on prices, known products, endorsers, well food packaging, on sale items or just anything that can satisfy hunger. Food items with nutritional benefits should be the concern of all consumers. Knowing your nutrition labels can help in the decision making, because learning how to read and understand nutrition labels account for making healthier food choices.
In the Philippines, nutrition facts are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as mandated by Administrative Order 204-0030 entitled “Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged Food Products Amending Certain Provisions of AO No.88-B s. 1984”. Nutrition facts are presented in tabular form and all nutrient quantities are declared in relation to the average or usual serving in terms of slices, pieces, and specified weight or volume.
Reading of nutrition facts should start with the serving information at the top. It presents the size of a single serving and total number of servings per package. This also reminds buyers on how much serving per pack they can only consume daily.
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- Category: Region 10
4 May 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – Among the most at-risk population groups during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are the pregnant women and children. Because of this crisis, pregnant and lactating mothers may have difficulties in seeking consultations due to the limited movement of people to contain the spread of the virus.
To help mothers and caregivers address their problems, questions and concerns specifically about infant and young child feeding (IYCF), the Regional IYCF Task Force through the National Nutrition Council (NNC) X and Cagayan de Oro City Breastfeeding and IYCF Task Force launched their respective IYCF hotlines.
Hotlines 0917-980-3388 of NNC X and 0945-711-8925 of Cagayan de Oro CNC are operational every Mondays to Fridays at 9:00 AM-4:00 PM and 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, respectively.
The NNC IYCF X Hotline is being manned by NNC X staff in partnership with DOH Nutritionist-Dietitians deployed in Misamis Oriental Province while City Nutrition Program Coordinator Sherill Faith P. Española manages the IYCF hotline of Cagayan de Oro City.
