29-30 September 2022-The National Nutrition Council Region XII is closely monitoring the impacts of the implementation of the Tutok Kainan DSP in the region. This is done to further review and evaluate whether the program was appropriately and timely done at the local level.

This time, monitoring was conducted in the Municipalities of Banga and T'boli, which has 90 and 47 (6–23-month-old) Tutok Kainan DSP child beneficiaries, respectively.

During monitoring, it was discovered that the most common reason beneficiaries are changed or dropped from the program is their parents' or guardians' relocation. Other issues are caused by auto-immune illnesses, medical conditions, and allergies that may be triggered by the food commodities in question.

Upon examining the recipients' nutritional state, a progressive improvement is imminent. In addition to their nutritional status, their immune system has also improved essentially. According to MNAO Rosedane Santa Maria of T'boli, they had one recipient who routinely visited the hospital each month, but since the start of Tutok DSP, she has never been hospitalized.

As in other municipalities, the main hurdle to the program is the propensity for children to tire of the flavor and odor of the provided food; therefore, the MNAOs and BNSs combat this problem by incorporating ground fruits and vegetables, ground meat, and soups.

DMO II Madrona meets MNAO Rosedane Santa Maria and her T'boli personnel, as well as MNAO Dr. Cynthia Corneta and her Banga crew, during the monitoring. (DMO II FMM/NOIII/RNPC)