June 25, 2021- South Cotabato Province virtual meeting hosted by Provincial Nutrition Office (PNO). It was participated by 27 Local Nutrition Focal Points (LNFPs) namely: Nutrition Action Officers, District/ City and Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinators, HRH-Nutritionist Dietitians and Nutrition Staff all over the province and a staff from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII also joined the virtual meeting.
The meeting’s objectives were (1) to provide technical updates on the different nutrition program plans, projects, and activities for 2021 (2) to review and assess nutrition program implementation for the 1st semester (3) to identify gaps, issues/ concerns that hinders program implementation on the different planned activities (4) to come up with the possible strategies & measures to address the gaps in the implementation of the program amidst COVID 19 pandemic.
The meeting tackled 2021 Nutrition Month, MELLPI Pro Evaluation, 2021 provincial Operation Timbang plus (OPT+) results, school-based Supplemental Feeding and NNC updates and concerns. Some agreements were: (1) to cancel the conduct of MELLPI Pro due to the local quarantine protocols brought by COVID 19 pandemic. (2) Two municipalities to submit local reports on 2021 EOPT Plus, Local Nutrition Action Plans with local resolution. Further, NNC XII requested all Local Government Units (LGUs) to use the standard measuring tools during the conduct of local assessment to pre-school children, conduct local salt collection subject for salt testing in NNC XII office and PNO to support and provide funding and technical assistance to the two (2) areas with Local Nutrition Early Warning System on Food on Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS). NNC XII also invited all LGUs to join and participate the lined-up Nutrition Month activities which will be presented on Virtual Launching of the 2021 Regional Nutrition Month.
Mahintana Foundation Inc. committed to support the Nutrition Program of the province by providing funds to intensify the information education campaign which will results to behavioral change of the target groups. Moreover, NNC XII commits to provide technical assistance as requested by the LGU to share strategies and interventions which will improve local nutrition situation. (NOIIUtlang/OIC-NPCFlores)
