Region X

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 27 August 2019

Final Infographics BF Studies show that breastfeeding helps improve the health of baby as well as mother. A woman grows both physically and emotionally from the relationship she forms with her baby. There are many benefits of breastfeeding aside from the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.

Breastmilk is best for babies

Breastmilk satisfies the infants hunger and thirst at the same time. It helps create a loving bond between the mother and baby. The first milk produced at the end of pregnancy is called colostrum, a thick milk yellowish in color which is very rich in protein and antibodies. World Health Organization (WHO) recommended it as the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth.

Read more: Breastfeeding saves lives

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 26 August 2019

Talakag August 2019 LNEWS Core Group Trng

14 August 2019, Cagayan de Oro City – The National Nutrition Council X conducted series of capacity building on the establishment of Local Nutrition Early Warning System (LNEWS) in Talakag, Bukidnon to Local Nutrition Committee and various stakeholders. The LNEWS is a component of the Philippine Food and Nutrition Surveillance System to enable LGUs to take timely nutrition actions through early determination of underlying factors of malnutrition through monitoring of nutrition and nutrition-related indicators.

The Municipality of Talakag in the province of Bukidnon was identified as one of the expansion areas of LNEWS nationwide due to high prevalence of stunting of 26.57%, rank number 1 and 3 in the province and region respectively (2018 OPT). The LGU is also prone to natural calamities (landslide and flash flood) and other disaster affecting food and nutrition security.

As part of setting-up the LNEWS, a consultative workshop was held on 1-2 August 2019 at the Municipal Hall, Talakag, Bukidnon. It was attended by SB members, heads of offices, Municipal Nutrition Committee, BNS and BHW presidents. NNC X invited resource persons from selected line agencies such as DA, PAG-ASA, BFAR, and DOH and presented their programs and data being produced that may contribute to LGUs food and nutrition security and it’s monitoring system.

On 6-7 August 2019, the core group training followed at same venue. It aims to orient the LNEWS Team on secondary and primary data collection, process, collate and analyze data using LNEWS software tool; and how to interpret and convert raw data to useful information for decision-making. The identified LNEWS Team are the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Municipal Agriculturist, Tourism Officer, Municipal Health Office, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, ABC president, Municipal Sanitary Inspector and Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Health chair.

The training covers 12 technical sessions, from basic concepts of data collection, nutrition and nutrition-related data analysis, maintenance of the food and nutrition security early warning system and the use of the automated data management system, including the Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus automated tools.

The LNEWS team or core group are liable to strictly watch over the indicators and evolving challenges that may affect nutrition situation of vulnerable population, the 0-5 years old children in particular. The team should share results to the LCE and LNC for timely decision making, issuance of policies and identification of interventions.

Meanwhile, the third training was for the household data collectors held on 8-9 August 2019. The participants include the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer and her staff, Midwives, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers from the five (5) identified sentinel barangays: Cosina, San Miguel, San Antonio, Sto. Niño and Tikalaan. The trained BNSs and BHWs will be responsible for the quarterly collection of primary data from 19 households randomly selected per barangay.

Mayor Vergito O. Factura who was present during the core group training pledged his support to the establishment of LNEWS and said that “this project of NNC will be part of our roadmap in addressing the high prevalence of stunting and other forms of malnutrition in Talakag’.

Municipality of Talakag is the 4^th area in Northern Mindanao with established local nutrition early warning system aside from Ozamiz City, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental and Kadingilan, Bukidnon. (NO II Liwayway S. Llorico)

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 31 July 2019

Final Infographics Fight Againts NCDs

25 July 2019, Cagayan de Oro City - Non-communicable diseases known as NCDs is a condition that slowly progresses over a long period of time. The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes. The underlying risk factors of NCDs are physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use and the harmful use of alcohol.

NCDs is the leading cause of death worldwide. According to WHO, 80% of all NCD deaths worldwide occur in the low and middle-income countries and estimated 67% of mortality is in the Philippines (World Health Organization - Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles, 2018). The report showed that low and middle income generating household has a higher susceptibility in developing NDCs which could led to death because they are in the greater risk on having unhealthy dietary practices, higher exposure to smoke, and limited accesses to health care service due to household budgetary restrictions to avail medical or health care assistance/services.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 16 August 2019

2019 NPM Training 14 August 2019, Cagayan de Oro City – National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region X capacitated nutrition workers through conduct of the 2019 Training on Nutrition Program Management (NPM) held at Apple Tree Resort and Hotel, Opol, Misamis Oriental last 5-9 August 2019. The 5-day training was attended by 30 newly hired/designated Nutrition Action Officers, District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators and Nutritionist-Dietitians (ND) II of the ND Deployment Project of Department of Health’s Human Resource for Health (HRH) Program.

Opening Program was held on the first day where NPC Gladys Mae S. Fernandez welcomed the participants and explained the rationale and expected outputs of the training. Highlights of the program includes levelling of expectations for the training, trainers and their co-participants to start off the same ground for the training. Participants took the pre-test and NO II Sheena Marie G. Talle discussed the overview of the training.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 26 July 2019

NOBNS Article 19 July 2019, Cagayan de Oro City – Northern Mindanao’s Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (OBNS) Rose N. Alipoyo of Brgy. Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City was among the finalists for the Search for National OBNS, declared by NNC Central Office. National Evaluation Team members Jasmine Anne DF. Tandingan from Nutrition Surveillance Division - NNC Central Office and Divine Grace Domingo of UP Los Baños evaluated BNS Alipoyo last 18-19 July 2019.

The NET paid courtesy call to City Nutrition Chair and Mayor Oscar S. Moreno together with the city and Brgy. Kauswagan nutrition workforce, including NNC X led by NPC Gladys Mae Fernandez. Afterwhich, a program was held to welcome the evaluators in Brgy. Kauswagan.

The evaluation process for the 2-day activity involved review of Barangay Nutrition Committee and BNS documents using the MELLPI Pro tool for BNSs (70%), exam (20%) and interview (10%). Punong Barangay Pedro Balite and other barangay officials, including City Nutrition and NNC X staff expressed their support to BNS Alipoyo throughout the conduct of M & E.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 31 July 2019

2019 NM Culminating Activity

30 July 2019, Cagayan de Oro City -- National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region X spearheaded the 2019 Nutrition Month Culminating Activity held 30 July at Brgy. Nazareth Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City. "Kumain nang wasto at maging aktibo... push natin 'to!" is this year's theme for the 2019 NM Campaign. Approximately 100 Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) X member agencies, Nutritionist-Dietitians of DOH, Nutrition Action Officers, City Nutrition Program Coordinators, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, media partners, contest judges and nutrition stakeholders.

Punong Barangay Maximo T. Rodriguez, III welcomed the participants in his message, giving emphasis on moving forward with progress. Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez of NNC X shared the key messages of this year's campaign.