PALO, Leyte – Before the year 2022 ended, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) 8 wrapped up two major activities.

These are Local Nutrition in Early Warning System (LNEWS) Program Implementation Review (PIR) and Learning Hub for Enhanced and Revitalized Nutrition (LHEARN) project.

The Local Nutrition Early Warning System - Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) Program is one of the activity and data sources of the Philippine Nutrition Surveillance System (PNSS) of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). The said program aims to understand the causes and seasonality of malnutrition.

In Region 8, at least five municipalities are identified as LNEWS areas. These are the municipalities of Hilongos and Palompon in Leyte, Gandara and Basey in Samar and Libagon in Southern Leyte. During the PIR, LGUs present took time in presenting their LNEWS accomplishment up to the 3rd quarter of 2022. Best practices were identified and likewise the challengers in its implementation.

Meanwhile, LHEARN project orientation and workshop was also conducted. The LHEARN project is part of the LGU Mobilization Strategy of NNC. It is one of the 3 components of the peer learning approach aimed at achieving the goals and outcomes of the Philippine Plan Action for Nutrition (PPAN). The other approaches are Nutrition Champion and Nutrition Shepherding.

NNC 8 chose the Province of Samar. The aggressive and consistent nutrition program management and investment of the province made them achieve improved nutrition situation.

By 2025, the current administration of Governor Sharee Ann Tan envisioned for single digit stunting prevalence. While it is quite ambitious target, the governor laid down its implementing mechanism through nutrition leadership and governance and investing more in human and financial resources for nutrition.

At the end of the two-day orientation/ workshop, the Samar Provincial Nutrition Committee will organize themselves to a LHEARN team, formulate a LHEARN plan including session plans to be used among LHEARN mentee-LGUs and conduct of advocacy among low performing LGUs implementing nutrition to enroll in the LHEARN hub. #RNPC-CPD