City of San Fernando, La Union-- The National Nutrition Council- Region 1 (NNC1) in close coordination with the League of Nutrition Action Officers of Region 1 (RLNAOs) spearheaded the conduct of the Online Nutrition Forum: Dissemination of the Nutrition Service Continuity Survey Results and Let’s Talk NAO Launching held last June 11, 2021 via zoom and attended by around 180 participants from the Local Government Units particularly the Nutrition Action Officers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars, representatives from different Regional Nutrition Committee member agencies, local media and other stakeholders.

NNC1 Officer-In-Charge, Mr. Kendall Gatan reiterated on his opening message the importance of proper health and nutrition in this time of pandemic. He also added that the current situation had a great impact on the health, nutrition and social services and this online survey will help in measuring the actions, gaps and challenges that needs to be addressed.

NNC’s Nutrition Officer II, Ms. Christie Ferino presented the background and initial results of the Online Survey on Nutrition Service Continuity in the region covering the following elements: status of capacities of BNSs, nutrition services offered before and during community quarantine, nutrition services adaptation, nutrition information, education, and communication and provision of food packs. She also added that the results will still undergo in-depth analysis for better understanding of the situation.

The results showed that most of the routine services were sustained however there is a need to strengthen the Infant and Young Child Feeding and Treatment of Acute Malnutrition services because these are essential in providing health and nutrition services to the vulnerable group in this COVID-19 pandemic.

The following reactors: Ms. Wylibeth Lumpias of NNC1, Ms. Gretchen Quiñones of DSWD-ROI, Ms. Elma Irapta, PNAO of Ilocos Norte and Ms. Nory Estoesta, Regional Vice-President of LUpangIlocos BNS Federations provided their insights and responses after the results presentation to include the efforts and activities undertaken that contributed to the sustainability of the nutrition program implementation in this time of pandemic and to what  actions needed to scale-up at the regional, provincial and barangay level to address the gaps and challenges  .

The said survey was conducted among the City and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) nationwide last January 2021 to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the provision and utilization of routine nutrition services through the health system.

The results shall serve as basis for the nutrition community to further strengthen and intensify its nutrition actions to address the possible effect of this COVID-19 pandemic to the health and nutrition situation.

The launching of Let’s talk NAO then followed through a video presentation highlighting the commitments of the RLNAOs officers and unveiling of the program Official Logo. Let’s Talk NAO is a weekly Social Media Talk Show of NNC1 and RLNAOs to create awareness and massive campaign on good nutrition and featuring the good practices and nutrition innovations of selected LGUs in the region during the time of pandemic.

OIC Gatan and RLNAOs President, Ms. Reygee Rocero encouraged the nutrition stakeholders and the general public to support and promote the said program which will commence on the second week of July 2021.

The event was successfully hosted by Mr. Mark Gemson Espinosa, Station Manager of iFM Dagupan and Business Manager for Broadcast of the Regional Organization of Nutrition Development Advocates-1 (RONDA-1), Inc. /CPF, KPAG