San Fernando City- As part of the monthlong regional celebration of Nutrition Month (NM), the League of Nutrition Action Officers of Region 1 in close collaboration with the National Nutrition Council Regional Office 1 once again held its NM Webinar cum Regional Conference-Workshop on July 21-22, 2021 via Zoom anchored with this year’s NM theme: “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 Days tutukan.”. The said conference was attended by 346 participants mostly from the Local Government Units in Region I specifically the local nutrition action officers, barangay nutrition scholars and members of the local nutrition committees.
This annual event of the league aims to update and equip its members and other members of the Local Nutrition Committees, the Barangay Nutrition Scholars and other nutrition workers with the knowledge and skills to sustain efficient and effective management of local nutrition programs amidst this pandemic.
Ms. Reygee Rocero, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur and RLNAOs Acting President on her opening message inspired and encouraged the attendees to enhance their capacities and competencies to improve the delivery of nutrition services and implement the programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022 to address hunger and malnutrition in their respective areas.
“First 1000 Days is so vital in one’s development…We all have the power to take real actions on our goal for nutrition. I encourage you to be the PPAN prime movers to achieve our desire of having a healthy community”, she said.
Exciting presentations of the expert resource persons then followed to highlight the conference.
Dr. Joan Mae Perez-Rifareal emphasized on her topic on mental health awareness that the anxiety and fear were natural effects of pandemic and some strategies to cope up were connections with friends and families, daily routine and work balance, understanding the uncertainty and disruptions, mindfulness of the present and future, setting boundaries and limitations to manage constant stream of information and social media and self-care.
Mr. Kendall A. Gatan, NNC Region I’s Officer-In-Charge provided tips to the participants relative to PPAN implementation in this time of pandemic and addressed some concerns of LGU partners on the PPAN’s localization.
Ms. Helen Joy A. Bugaling, NNC’s ECCD-F1K Provincial Nutrition Focal Point discussed on the second day the adjustments in conducting Dietary Supplementation Amidst COVID-19 pandemic which basically aims to provide additional nutrient intake particularly for pregnant and young children.
Lastly, Ms. Christie P. Ferino, NNC’s Nutrition Officer II conveyed the different nutrition interventions during emergencies and disasters and how to manage and document information needed by the nutrition clusters at all levels in providing appropriate and immediate interventions.
The webinar was successfully moderated by Mr. Marius Clifford Billedo, one of the RHU staff of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur./CPF
