Cebu City – Finally back after last year’s hiatus, the Regional Congress of Nutrition Action Officers is given the green light by the Central Visayas Association of Nutrition Action Officers, (CeVANAO) Inc. Board Members but in an online platform to keep up with the health protocols with the still on-going pandemic. Thus aptly, going with the theme: “Nutrition programs, Advancing Onwards in the new normal” or “NAO in the new normal”.
Scheduled on the 10th of September, the congress is jam packed with technical inputs that aim to equip Nutrition Action Officers to manage (from planning, organizing, coordinating, implementation and monitoring and implementation) nutrition programs in the new normal and in light of the financial windfall for the local governments and full devolution transition of basic services and facilities which will be permanently taken out from the NGAs and be fully entrusted to the LGUs.
While many of the nutrition action officers in Region 7 remain chest deep buried in COVID-19 response, the board members who had a special meeting on the 25 August 2021 has agreed to push through with the congress plans to help remind NAOs throughout the region of their nutrition roles and responsibilities and provide technical updates in dealing with the new normal.
To open the programme is NNC Deputy Executive Director Rita D. Papey who will be giving the keynote message. The gathering also serves as venue for the election of the CeVANAO, Inc. officers and updating of members of the organization’s accomplishments.
Traditionally conducted back-to-back with the Grand Nutrition Awards (GNA) annually, the congress shall be done independent of other activities to adopt to the pressures of online activities and ensure attendance and attention retention of its audience.
The 16th congress shall be commenced at 1:30 pm and shall be streamed live via the National Nutrition Council Region VII’s official Facebook page: facebook.com/NNCRVII
Because of the pressures put upon NAOs during the COVID-19 pandemic the nutrition situation has been in a standstill with insignificant changes in the nutrition status of stunted children at 10.1% in 2019 and 2020. Issues on the increase of hunger and food insecurity has also risen making it timely for NAOs to be back in action. //Nasudi G. Soluta, RND
