The Municipal Nutrition Council (MNC) of the municipality of Jagna did it again for the third time in the year 2013. Awarded the 2013 Most Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Council in the Province of Bohol last February 27, 2014 in Tagbilaran City, the MNC led by Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla continues to exert extra effort in the implementation of plans and programs for nutrition.
foto by Judy Grace Dominguez
For the year 2013, awarded with the Municipal Nutrition Council is the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) of Odiong as 2013 Most Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee in the 3rd district of Bohol. Punong Barangay Guzman Olaer leads the BNC of Odiong.
Purok 3 of Balili, Jagna, Bohol earned a recognition from the province. Punong Barangay Eduardo S. Pagulon accepted the certificate of recognition.
Abiding with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in eradicating malnutrition, the MNC in the year 2013 focused on proper nutrition education and information dissemination.
The Pabasa sa Nutrisyon (PSN), a national program is continuously implemented in the barangays. Target beneficiaries are parents of underweight children, pregnant and lactating mothers. This is a fun educational program not only designed to impart proper nutrition education to the target population, it employs strategies that will help the program get easily accepted by employing games, exercises and fun demonstrations. The program started in 2010 and has completed 100% of its targeted population by year 2013. The local implementation of the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon has earned the town the PSN Exemplary Award for successfully implementing the program for 3 consecutive years given last November in Manila with a P 500,000 cash prize intended for nutrition enhancement.
One MNC strategy is creating a program Nutrition-on-Air designed to massively deliver proper nutrition information by using the media specifically the radio thru the local radio station DYJP. This is designed in order to reach the populace who are in a day out for work in the fields and in offices and does not have the time to attend even short lectures conducted in the barangays. Nutrition-on-Air is done weekly during the month of July, nutrition month.
Purok Center empowerment is strengthened thru continuous monitoring of the MNC of the ouroks in the barangays.
While the MNC’s main strategy this year is proper nutrition education and massive information dissemination it goes hand in hand with direct intervention which includes feeding to children in the schools using the Manna Pack – a rice and soy protein combination from the LGU’s partner NGO, the Philos Health.
The consistent decline in the prevalence of underweight preschool children from 3.95% in 2010 to 1.79% in 2012 was achieved.
The MNC’s strategy of meticulously monitoring the baranngay nutrition councils in their respective implementation of proper nutrition programs thru annual visits and monthly meetings of the barangay nutrition scholars for reminders and updates strengthened the municipality’s position on eradicating malnutrition earning it the cooperation of each barangay nutrition councils.
The Jagna MNC led by Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla receives the trophy as 2013 Most Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Council in the province from Governor Edgar M. Chatto with BM Ceasar Tomas Lopez.
