General Santos City - "Part of our efforts to decrease maternal and infant deaths is the nutrition management. You are mostly reliable in maintaining the nutritional status of infants and mothers in your respective areas", introductory statement of DOH-CHD XII Regional Director Teogenes F. Baluma during the Training on Nutrition Management held at Family Country Hotel and Convention Centre in General Santos City. Thirty (30) participants composed of provincial, city and municipal nutrition action officers (P/C/MNAOs), District Nutrition Program Coordinators (DNPCs) and other technical staff on nutrition in the region attended the said training.

Ms. Pamela A. Gonzales and Ms. Marcelina C. Miranda, both University Research Associates from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), were among the trainers including the local trainers from the region in the person of PNAO Maria Ana D. Uy of South Cotabato, CNAO Veronica M. Daut of Koronadal City, Nutrition Program Coordinator Arceli M. Latonio and Nutrition Officer III Gladys Mae S. Fernandez. Techniques on effective planning, implementation, monitoring and sustaining nutrition programs were greatly emphasized, in the context of the overall local governance and development system.

During the five-day training, participants were able to update their knowledge and skills specifically in the area of nutrition program planning and management. Thus, the training serves as one of the approaches in addressing hunger and malnutrition and at the same time, as a key action towards the capacity building schemes for nutrition workers in the region.