Region XII

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 27 July 2016

national-nutrition-council By: Bary Lugan

As part of the special project titled ‘Cultural Sensitive Health and Nutrition Interventions for Tboli’ which was launched in April this year, the National Nutrition Council –Regional Office 12 handed 200 heads of ducks to the identified families in Sitio Lemkati in Barangay Datal Dlanag.

A total of 20 families, according to Municipal Nutrition Office, have received the ducks that were delivered on two tranches. The first delivery was on June 14 and the second was made on June 27.

These families are those with undernourished children and have stated their willingness to avail the project. But before the turn over, they were required earlier to undergo the capability enhancement sessions so they would know their responsibilities particularly on ensuring the safety of the ducks and the appropriate feeding techniques.

In a statement from Gladys Mae Fernandez, Nutrition Officer III of NNC-12, each family is provided with nine female ducks and a male so they reproduce and will become a source of food later.

Aside from food source, the animal dispersal project of the NNC also aims to give the families with additional income the moment the ducks multiply. It was agreed, she said, that during the cycle of reproduction, 50% of the eggs will be allotted for hatching, while the 25% is for the consumption of the beneficiaries’ undernourished children, and the remaining 25% can be sold as family income.

Fernandez further said once the ducks have reproduced, other target beneficiaries on the wait list shall also avail. Before the ducks were dispatched to the area, they are given oral immunization by Lorna Viloria of the Tboli Municipal Agriculture Office. Viloria also spent time with the project team in the area to meet the recipients for some needed instructions.

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 30 June 2016

2016 ROBNS Known as the forefronts against malnutrition, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) surely are bracing their selves as they await the final juncture for the search ofRegional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS) 2015. As the grassroots of delivering basic nutrition and healthcare services, the BNS being a volunteer worker is truly an astounding task.They work for the welfare of their community and serves as a mother to the community without expecting a reward.
Thirty Eight (38) years ago, the Government focused its development program on the implementation of the quality of life in every Filipino and a part of it was to alleviate malnutrition. And with this, it was in the light that the birth of BNS was finally pushed through. By virtue of PD 1569, Section 2, it is mandated that every barangay in the country will deploy one barangay nutrition scholar which will be responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities in their respective barangay.
The National Nutrition Council Region 12 together with the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) hadcompletely conducted the evaluation for the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for 2015. The evaluation started inApril this year and ended last June 14. Further, the 7 BNSs’ regionwide vied for the Regional Outstanding BNS for 2015 also took an exam as a part of the search. Documentations and any other related reports were assessed. RNET has been looking for a BNS who have shown an exemplary performance in delivering nutrition and related services, good practices or innovations that had a great impact on the nutritional status of their community.

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 31 May 2016

RNET SOCCSKSARGEN PRIMED FOR 2016 MELLPI SEASON The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team –SOCCSKSARGEN geared up for 2016 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation or MELLPI and the Search for the 2015 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) which had started last 20 April 2016, aiming to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of local government units’ plan and the implementation of their local nutrition programs as well as the performance of the BNS, being the front-liners of delivering nutrition services in their respective barangays through efficient nutrition program management.
The search is on for the Outstanding BNS for 2015 as the team first visited Tacurong City last April 20. Other areas that had already been visited are General Santos City, Sarangani Povince, Kidapawan City, Koronadal City, and Sultan Kudarat Province. The team will be heading at South Cotabato and Cotabato province this coming June 2 and June 10 respectively for the same purpose.
Results of the evaluation will be based by appraising their performance both in oral and written tests, including their accomplishments on how effective they are in improving the nutrition situation of their respective barangay.
Meanwhile, among the cities and provinces in the region, Sarangani Province and Kidapawan City are still the areas that have been visited for both MELLPI and BNS Evaluation. On the other hand, the schedules laid below will be carried through on the following areas:

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 17 June 2016

The quest of totally eradicating malnutrition rate in the region continues as the gleam of the Nutrition in Development Organization of Social Educators in SOCCSKSARGEN” (NUTRI-DOSE) amplifies beyond mission. Last June 13, 2016, NNC XII had led Regional Local Media Group Meeting which was attended by 12 members coming from the different radio stations, (both community and commercial radio stations), print ads in SOCCSKSARGEN and as well as from Philippine Information Agency (PIA) held at Casa Gemma Hotel and Restaurant, Koronadal City.
The meeting was presided by Ms. Agnes Myra Piñol of (DXOM-FM/RADYO BIDA), who’s at the same time, the President of the organization. The meeting’s purpose principally tackled for the whole year plan of 2016 activities which provided niche of ideas as to how they will be moving ahead and catapult nutrition information through effective dissemination in the public.
The organization mainly schemes for the upcoming Nutrition Month Celebration that will be officially launched next month. Moreover, Nutrition Plugging, Seminar-orientation, Nutrition school-on-the-air, Nutrition quiz on the air-in partnership with LGUs and DepEd and networking in grassroots, particularly the Barangay Nutrition Scholars were the suggested activities among other matters.

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 29 April 2016

Radyo Katribu 103.3 FM-Nutriskwela Community Radio continues to take the plunge in providing community linkages towards addressing malnutrition. Last April 14, 2016, in celebration of its 1st anniversary and with the help of local government agencies, the station conducted an outreach program in Sitio Datal Teblow and Sitio Mutusong of Brgy. Lemsnolon, Tboli.

One year ago, Radyo Katribu went on air last April 15, 2015, in coordination with the Local Government of Tboli and National Nutrition Council. Since then, although it is the only radio station in the locality, it never stopped to advocate good nutrition through disseminating the most current and significant information concerning health, proper food, nutrition and diet. As the only "newsbearer", Nutriskwela Radyo Katribu can be heard regularly from 4:00 in the morning till 10:00 in the evening.

Nutriskwela Radyo Katribu was even more invigorated with the support of head of local government offices such as the Municipal Health Officer (MHO), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) who is the designated Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO), Culture and Arts, Tribal Affairs Unit, DST, SUMIFRU Philippines and others providing their respective services to the aforementioned sitios. The Municipal Nutrition Office spearheaded by Ms. Rosedane Sta. Maria together with the Barangay Nutrition Scholars conducted feeding, Pabasa sa Nutrisyon sessions and parlor games.

On the other hand, medical services by the healthcare team such as free check-up and “operation tuli” were provided by the Municipal Health Office led by Dr. Josephine Armada together with Dr. Edgar Muega and the nurses. Municipal Administrator, Dr. Salvecio Dagang, also offered free consultation for the residents who have health concerns. Apart from those, they also received grocery packs. Indeed, it was all worth it -- seeing the joy of the residents and how they were all delighted while relishing all the services they’ve received brought by Radyo Katribu with the help of the said offices including the Community Radio Council.
Source: Radyo Katribu

Details: Category: Region 12; Published: 31 May 2016

The Regional Nutrition Situation shows a significant decrease of the malnutrition rate among 0-71 months old preschool children over the last five years based on the OPT Plus in SOCCSKSARGEN with results of10.54% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2015. However if we are to look in terms of magnitude out of the 570,942 total weighed preschoolers in the region 37,687 of it were underweight and severely underweight while 6901 of it were overweight which still indicates alarming number. Malnutrition in any forms can lead to low productivity, poor mental development and even death. Further, malnutrition does not only impacts on an individual’s health, but also imposes social and economic burdens on our country.
On the otherhand, among the provinces, results revealed that Sarangani province had been drastically increasing its prevalence rate of underweight and severely underweight children from 2010 and was recorded high in 2014 with 10%, though it has decreased for 2015, the province’s previous rate (9.82) was still higher than the regional average (6.60), while the other provinces had been steady of decreasing prevalence trends.Sarangani Province ranked 1st with 9.82% prevalence rate followed by Kidapawan City with 9.52% and Sultan Kudarat Province with 8.35% at 2nd and 3rd rank respectively.
Stunting or Chronic malnutrition is devastating to young children as it impaired brain development, lower IQ, weakened immune systems and greater risk of serious diseases. In the region, 14.7% or 14 in every 100 children are stunted based on the OPT Plus 2015 results. Out of 394,236 weighed preschoolers 57,976 of it are stunted and severely stunted and still province of Sarangani got the 1st rank with 20.14% followed by Sultan Kudarat with 15.87% and Koronadal City with 15.39% at 2nd and 3rd rank prevalence rate which are still higher than the regional average (14.7%).
Wasting or the rapid losing of weight usually is caused by a combination of infection and insufficient diet. According to the 2015 OPT Plus result, a prevalence rate of 6.29% was recorded which means in every 100 preschool children there are 6 wasted and severely wasted.Out of 380,348 weighed preschoolers, 23,911 were wasted and severely wasted. General Santos City got a total prevalence rate of 9.68% which placed it at top 1, followed by Sultan Kudarat with 6.55% and Sarangani with 6.45%.