Cebu City – The annual convergence of the Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) in the region, dubbed the Regional Nutrition Action Officers Congress held on 08 August 2014 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Salinas Drive, Cebu City was graced by the Regional Development Chair and Bohol Governor, Honorable Edgardo M. Chatto, as the congress’ keynote speaker.
In his keynote address elaborating on the theme “NAO’s key role in preventing nutrition emergencies”, Governor Chatto stressed the pivotal role NAOs play in activating the Nutrition Cluster during emergencies and disasters and orchestrating all the efforts of the members of the cluster including international partners and other stakeholders to ensure that nutrition assessment and interventions are in place. Taking into light the recent earthquake that has ravaged Bohol Province, Governor Chatto shed light on the contribution of Nutrition Action Officers in preventing the worsening of the nutrition situation in heavily affected areas with the help of the members of the nutrition committees, MNAOs, municipal nutrition program coordinators and the barangay nutrition scholars. He also emphasized the role of NAOs in achieving the Millennium Development Goals particularly Goal 1. He concluded his speech by lauding the NAOs and the work they are doing despite being an added responsibility on top of their prime designation.
The NAO Congress, now on its 10th year discussed health and nutrition topics particularly along nutrition in emergencies. These include among others “Understanding What Emergency is and Why it Happens” by Engineer Alfredo F. Quiblat Jr., OIC of PAG-ASA DOST Region 7; “Nutrition in Emergencies: Roles and Responsibilities of NAOs” discussed by Mr. Ruselle L. Gako, RN, Assistant HEMS Coordinator of DOH RO 7; and Projecting Self with Media” by Ms. Ma. Jaybee Jonafe S. Binghay, a media personality and HRO, DSWD 7.
The NAO Congress is an annual activity spearheaded by the Central Visayas Association of Nutrition Action Officers’ together with the Regional Nutrition Committee and the National Nutrition Council VII that aims to gather the different NAOs in the region and provide them with nutrition and related updates relevant to their roles and convene them into an assembly to discuss concerns of the association. //DFB
