DOH presents plan of action for nutrition

COMMITMENT --- ARMM Secretary of Health Dr. Kadil “Jojo” M. Sinolinding, Jr. speaks before turn-over of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 documents to various stakeholders last January 11 in Cotabato City. (Gilmhar A. Lao with photo by BPI-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) headed by Health Secretary and Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr. facilitated last January 11 the Regional Dissemination of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 held at Glamour Convention Center.

The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition carries the theme, “Sa PPAN: Panalo ang Bayan.”

“The plan was approved and adopted on February 21, 2017 by the NNC Governing Board through Resolution No. 1, Series of 2017,” Sinolinding said.

Reginaldo T. Guillen, chief of Nutrition Policy and Planning Division, presented the RDP for 2017-2022 putting emphasis on the chapter’s relevance to the social sector.

Among the attendees were member-agencies of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) - ARMM, the City Nutrition Action Officers (CNAOs) in the region, and partners from the provinces of the ARMM.

Accordingly, data show that among the prevailing nutritional problems in the region are stunting, wasting, and overweight/obesity among children underfive years of age, hunger and food security with 68.3 percent of Filipino households, iodine deficiency disorder among children, iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women, vitamin A deficiency, and at the same time overweight/obesity among adults.

The PPAN/RPAN is anchored on the Philippine/Regional Development Plan, the 0-10 point socio-economic agenda of the Duterte Administration and the Philippine Health Agenda, 2016-2022. 

There are 12 programs under the PPAN, eight of which are nutrition specific, one is nutrition-sensitive, and three are enabling support programs.

Also present during the activity were ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, Maguindanao Governor Esmael G. Mangudadatu, and Upi Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr.

Attendees also declared and signed their respective commitments at the commitment wall as PPAN advocates. 

Planning workshops were likewise undertaken towards the latter part of the program, grouping respective stakeholders to tailor-fit plans and projects in line with the PPAN 2017-2022. (JESSA OCAMPO FUENTES, BA-COMM, NDU – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)