GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 12 is pushing for the implementation of more focused nutrition interventions next year as it moves to ease cases of malnutrition in parts of the region.
NNC regional coordinator Araceli Latonio said Monday they are currently drawing up a regional plan of action to properly address prevailing and emerging nutrition-related problems in region also known as Soccsksargen.
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
NNC data showed that among the prevailing nutritional problems in the region were stunting, wasting and overweight/obesity among infants and children aged 71 months and below; overweight/obesity among adults; iodine deficiency disorder among children; iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women; and vitamin A deficiency.
In 2016, the municipality of Kiamba in Sarangani posted the highest prevalence of stunting among children with 32.35 percent, followed by Kalamansig in Sulytan Kudarat with 28.74 percent and Arakan in North Cotabato with 28.18 percent.
Latonio said the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) they are currently formulating will detail programs and activities for the next five years or until 2022.
She said it is anchored on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022, which was approved and adopted last February by the NNC governing board.
The PPAN/RPAN complements the Philippine Development Plan, the 0-10 point socioeconomic agenda of the national government, and the Philippine Health Agenda 2016-2022.
Latonio said it is important for the planned nutrition programs and activities to be properly implemented down to the barangay level through the barangay nutrition scholars.
She added that these should be done in close coordination with local government units through the local nutrition action officers.(FKA/PNA)
