Region VII

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 28 November 2022

Cebu City, Nancy Ucag-Cudis, MIND 7 VP for Social Media — Mental health is the state of an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being that affects how a person acts and thinks. It is often driven by mood disorders such as bipolar, anxiety, and personality disorders.

The common factors of poor mental health are social isolation and loneliness, as well as neglect, childhood abuse, and trauma that ripples down and affects the interpersonal relations of people with their families and peers.

It is important to note that mental health does not only manifest in adults, but it is also very much a part of children around the world.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 27 November 2022

Cebu City, Cebu – Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission visited the towns of Asturias and Balamban, Cebu on 10 October 2022 to advocate for nutrition to newly elected mayors in these municipalities.

The advocacy visit focused on the importance of nutrition and why the LGU should invest in it. Dr. Mission also shared the roles of the local nutrition committees, the nutrition situation of the LGU, the functionality of the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC), and the power of the first one thousand days. The advocacy visits also discussed the “NEOtrition guide”, a quick guide to navigating the nutrition programs of newly elected LCEs.

Malnutrition is a universal issue and is holding back development across the world. At the same time, the opportunity to end malnutrition has never been greater. The multidisciplinary problem of nutrition leads local governments to improve their capacity and bring together various stakeholders to come up with collectively agreeable solutions to solve malnutrition.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 26 November 2022

Cebu City – Acute malnutrition or wasting is condition where the child has low weight-for-height and is characterized by rapid weight loss or edema caused mainly by sudden change in quality and quantity of food or poor infant feeding practices. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is still a major fatal problem in children under five years old, in fact a child having SAM is 9 to 12 times more likely to die while moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is 3 to 4 times more likely to die.

Even until today different local government units in Central Visayas still face the problem of acute malnutrition. Despite this, many LGUs are still not well-equipped or prepared in the proper protocols needed in the management of acute malnutrition.

It is important that health and nutrition workers of LGUs are aware of the proper protocols in the management of acute malnutrition and that includes the essential medical treatment strategies that involve with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUSF).

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 27 November 2022

Cebu City – The Provincial and City Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) Association Presidents who served as Regional Federation officers continuously report their accomplishments during the FeBaNuSA 7, Inc. regular meetings held every quarter. This was done even during the pandemic when the leaders of frontline heroes shared their performance via an online platform.

FeBaNuSA 7, Inc. or the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars Associations of Region 7, Inc. is the authorized organization of the BNSs in Central Visayas formed to promote unity and linkages among BNS associations in the region, strengthen camaraderie among BNSs, improve the competencies of members through capacity building activities, uphold the rights and responsibilities of BNSs and create a venue for economic and social upliftment of the members.

The 3^rd meeting for the year was held on 21 September 2022 where 3 of 4 provincial associations and 14 of 16 city associations rendered their triumphs and challenges in coordinating their barangay nutrition programs and in managing their provincial or city associations. Also discussed during the said meeting was the final preparation for the 18^th annual Regional Congress of BNS which will be done face to face where big meetings and conferences are now allowed.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 25 November 2022

Dalaguete Cebu - The Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of Dalaguete headed by its mayor and Chair Hon. Ronald Allan G. Cesante is hopeful to further improve the implementation of their nutrition program with the inputs to be provided by the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP).

PMNP is a bold, multi-sectoral nutrition project to be funded by the World Bank to deliver a coordinated package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions across the various LGU platforms. The project aims to increase the simultaneous utilization of a package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions and improve key health behaviors and practices known to reduce stunting in target LGUs.

The World Bank team led by Dr. Nkosi Mbuya, Ms. Birte Holm Soresen, Dr. Cecilia Acuin, DOH central office representative Ms. Joey R. Jade, and KALAHI CIDDS CO Ms. Loida Abela visited Dalaguete to assess the nutrition situation of Dalaguete Cebu for the future implementation of the project.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 26 November 2022

Cebu City – Mr. Rjay Bula or commonly known as “Rjaybuls”, a social media content creator and NAS daily impersonator in Cebu advised Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) in Central Visayas to maximize social media as a platform for nutrition advocacy and promotion. He did this during the 17^th Regional Congress of Nutrition Action Officers held on 16 September 2022 at Galleria Hotel, Cebu City. “Rjaybuls” was one of the resource speakers then in the said event where he elaborated on content creation and investing in social media.

Mr. Rjaybuls in his talk urged the 127 NAOs attending the regional congress to invest in social media as this is the best way to spread good information to the targeted audience. He shared that in a study, there are approximately 79 million users in the Philippines and the average screen time is about five hours and 47 minutes. “As social media platforms keep on developing, more and more people will most likely choose to use their phones to get information rather than in traditional media. This (platform) gives a direct (information) audience online”, he said. Mr. Bula further told the attendees that this is an untapped opportunity for NAOs and nutrition workers to engage in and spread the information.