Region VII

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 11 November 2022

Valencia, Negros Oriental - Breast milk gives the best nourishment to babies, including premature and sick infants. In any case, there are uncommon exemptions when breast milk or breastfeeding is not suggested. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet her baby’s nutritional needs. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs. Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby which helps babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses. Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles especially when traveling. Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are less common among women who breastfeed.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 10 November 2022

Bantayan Island, Cebu - Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) thru RNPC Dr. Parolita A. Mission and RNC-Technical Working Group Member Ms. Piladelfa S. Gaviola of PAN - Cebu Chapter visited the three municipalities of Bantayan Island on 07-08 November 2022. The visit was in response to the request of the Bantayan MNC Chair Hon. Mayor Arthur E. Despi for them to reorganize their Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) and orient the newly elected mayor of the adjacent municipality of Madridejos on the nutrition program.

The advocacy meetings started in the Municipality of Bantayan wherein the team was greeted by the newly designated Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO), Ms. Josephine Belotindos of MSWD. The locality held an MNC meeting that was attended by different municipal department offices and non-government agencies and the new Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator (MNPC), PHN Maria Manulat of the RHU Bantayan. The meeting was presided over by its MNC Chair & Mayor Despi who also expressed his bias toward nutrition having attended the LNAP workshop during his first term as mayor.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 09 November 2022

Carmen, Cebu - Basic sanitation is the ability to maintain hygienic conditions through services like garbage collection, industrial/hazardous waste management, and wastewater treatment and disposal. It also refers to having access to facilities for the safe disposal of human waste (feces and urine). While food safety on the other hand has a correlation with proper sanitation and hygiene that can affect one’s health.

In the Philippines, we have different Sanitation Codes to ensure food safety and proper food handling. PD 856 is one of them. Different sections tackle the importance of food handling from the issuance of permits down to food storage. Many agencies are involved in food sanitation and hygiene including the Bureau of Foods and Drugs now the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, National Food Authority, among others.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 10 November 2022

San Miguel, Bohol – The Barangays Nutrition Committee (BNC) of Barangay of Cambangay Norte in this landlocked municipality conducted Idol ko si Nanay learning sessions. The first session was held on 24 October 2022 in the barangay’s covered court with 20 participants, consisting of pregnant and lactating mothers. The first session was facilitated by RHM Mrs. Florentina B. Fernandez and Nurse II, Gemma D. Luzon.

Idol Ko si Nanay is one of the activities of the BNC included in their Barangay Nutrition Action Plan. BNC Chair and Punong Barangay, Hon. Roger B. Ibaoc spearheaded the activity assisted by the BNS Celerina Bregente, BHWs, and other barangay officials.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 08 November 2022

Cebu City – As the country is set to launch the new Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028, the Regional Nutrition Committee thru the National Nutrition Council Region VII will conduct an online forum for PPAN 2023-2028 on 09 November 2022 at 1:00 PM via zoom conference call. The activity entitled “PRO Nutrition: A call to Legislators and Youth Leaders for PPAN Engagement” targets policymakers and the youth to gain support and commitment for regional nutrition improvement.

The activity is conducted in partnership with members of the Regional Nutrition Committee, the National Youth Commission Visayas and the Philippine Councilors’ League and is designed specifically to give awareness to stakeholders or supporters about what legislators can do to scale up multidisciplinary nutrition action for greater impact.

Details: Category: Region 7; Published: 09 November 2022

Liloan, Cebu, USC BSND Intern Myrill Shane A. Otadoy - To fight malnutrition in the community, the Barangay Nutrition Committee of Barangay Catarman, Liloan, Cebu started to distribute Vitamin A supplements to their 6 to 59 months old children. Barangay Catarman is one of the top 5 barangays identified with severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition in the municipality.

Vitamin A supplementation is one of the nutrition-specific interventions to fight malnutrition. This involves treating all children aged approximately 6 months to 5 years in areas at high risk for vitamin A deficiency with high-dose vitamin A supplements two or three times per year. Vitamin A supplementation is one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives when the program is high quality and delivered in locations with high child mortality rates.