Health professionals play a central and critical role in improving access and quality health care for the population. They provide essential services that promote health, prevent diseases, and deliver health care services to individuals, families, and communities based on the primary health care approach (WHO, 2022).

Based on 2022 NNC Survey Recall there is a need to strengthen nutrition advocacies in the Region. The health practitioners serve as resources for most of the individuals in the community on proper nutrition, healthy diet, and health care.

The Regional Office XII of the National Nutrition Council conducted a Virtual Nutrition Symposium for the Public/Private Health Practitioners to promote and widen its advocacies on nutrition through a collaboration among private and public practitioners in the region.

A total number of 80 participants attended mostly coming from Nutritionist- Dietitian Association of the Philippines (NDAP)- SOCCSKSARGEN Chapter, Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians of the Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare Development Regional Office 12, and Nutrition Action Officers from all Provinces of the Region. Also attended in the Symposium are the soon-to-be health practitioners represented by the students of BS Nutrition and Dietetics, BS Nursing and Midwifery from St. Alexius College, UP-Manila School of Health Sciences, and Notre Dame of Marbel University.

The following topics were discussed which include NNC and PPAN, 2022 Nutrition Month, Healthy Lifestyle in the context of COVID19, Nutrition in the First 1000 days of life, Nutrition and Clinical Management of Acute Malnutrition, and Gender and Nutrition, respectively. (RNPCRML/AMF)