DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The National Nutrition Council in Region 7 (NNC-7) has commended the Negros Oriental Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) for its inter-agency efforts that resulted to the reduction of malnutrition incidence in the province.
NNC-7 regional director Dr. Parolita Mission congratulated the province for obtaining the Green Banner Seal of Compliance for Year 1 from the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), which recognized the efforts made by the provincial government and the PNC in reducing malnutrition rate and improving the nutritional status of children in the province.
Mission personally extended her congratulatory message to the members of the PNC during their recent conference in Dumaguete City.
The award was given on Aug. 9 during the 2024 Regional Grand Nutrition Award held in Cebu City, after the province garnered high scores in the indicators set by the RNC.
In a recent Kapihan Sa PIA forum, provincial health office nutritionist Antonieta Delfino reported that from 2019 to 2023, the malnutrition rate in the province dropped in several categories: underweight from 5.2 percent to 4.7 percent, wasting from 3.8 percent to 2.4 percent, stunting from 12.9 percent to 9.6 percent, and obesity from 3.8 percent to 2.4 percent.
“Right now, namayagpag ang Negros Oriental in terms of nutrition program (Negros Oriental is accomplishing much in terms of nutrition program). After many years of hard work, finally, you are reaping the fruits of your labor. That’s because of the inter-agency efforts done by the members of the PNC,” Mission said.
Provincial nutrition action officer Dr. Liland Estacion cited during the meeting that part of the efforts made by the PNC is the conduct of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) nutrition caravan where nutrition committee members visit areas with high malnutrition rates to raise awareness among local officials about combating malnutrition and creating related laws.
PNC members also agreed to utilize the P500,000 funding from the provincial government for the feeding program for pregnant women to ensure that their babies will have normal birth weight upon their birth.
This project has benefitted 45 pregnant mothers in La Libertad and 10 in Jimalalud.
On nutrition advocacy, PNC partnered with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for the conduct of Kapihan Sa PIA forum to discuss the nutritional status of children in the province and also raise awareness on PPAN and healthy eating habits.
Mission challenged PNC members to further strengthen their collaboration to sustain the province’s gains in improving the nutritional status of children and also achieve a certain score that would qualify them for 2nd cycle of awards.
The province must be a consistent awardee of the Green Banner Seal Awards to qualify for the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award, the highest recognition the RNC can provide to a local government unit for its efforts in reducing malnutrition rate in their area.
She also requested PIA, being a member of the PNC, to highlight success stories in the provincial government’s nutrition program.
The NNC-7 chief hopes the province will also qualify for the Nutrition Honor Award given at the national level.
Mission also congratulated Delfino for bagging the Regional Outstanding District Program Coordinator Award. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
