Tacloban City– The Regional Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) Team Coordinative meeting for the provinces and cities in Eastern Visayas is being conducted from June 8-10, 2021 at Hotel Lorenza, Tacloban City.

The management meeting is a venue to discuss issues and concerns regarding PIMAM implementation in the region organized by the Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Eastern Visayas. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) sits as Vice Chairperson of the Management Team.

In compliance with the IATF health protocols, the meeting was divided into small groups as Samar and Norther Samar Province on 8 June, Provinces of South Leyte, Biliran and Eastern Samar on June 9 and the Province Leyte with selected municipalities on June 10, 2021.

On Day 2, RNPC Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr., gave an update regarding the Mandanas ruling to be implemented next year and advocated Provincial Department of Health Office (PDOHO) and Provincial/Municipal Nutrrition Action Officer (P/MNAO) present to also tell local chief executives (LCEs) to create plantilla items of Nutritionist-Dietitician or Nutrition Officer to oversee PIMAM implementation. The RNPC cited some cities and municipalities who already created plantilla positions of the same.

As a response, Biliran PDOHO, Dr. Jerico Carlo Nartea, Jr. committed to advocate to LCEs in Biliran for the creation of plantilla items of NDs/NOs and upgrading of nurse positions based on the current issuance of Executive Order from the Office of the President.

This current good news will boost the morale of the health workers particularly NDs and nurses in the region. Likewise, will help implement PIMAM programs.

He also shared that for the Province of Biliran, a focal person for nutrition is designated to help municipalities in the implementation of nutrition program, projects and activities (PPAs). These nutrition focal persons came from the DOH-Human Resources for Health (DOH-HRH) assigned in the province.

Additionally, the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, Dr. Karen Villanueva shared that to help manage acute malnutrition is to also boost the immune system through good/proper nutrition. In her municipality they are now implementing home backyard and communal gardening. One of the motivations they do is to give awards or incentives to successful household with home backyard gardening.

RNPC Dotollo also discussed the need to train Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers BHWs on Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) taking and advice participants of the meeting to coordinate with either DOH CHD 8 or NNC 8 for an online conduct of MUAC taking training.

Moreover, Ms Felecita Borata, Nutritionist Dietitian IV of DOH-CHD 8 ate gave updates on the implementation of PIMAM in the region. Meanwhile, District Nutrition Program Coordinator of Biliran Province, Mr. Rio Rosales presented PIMAM progrram implementation updates.

Towards the end of the management meeting, RNPC Dotollo gave his closing message and thanked the participants in coming to attend the said meeting. He assured the participants that DOH-CHD and NNC is very much willing to provide needed technical and other resources needed for the smooth implementation of the PIMAM program. #NPC CPDotollo, Jr.