Legazpi City – National Nutrition Council Region V in partnership with the Department of Health Bicol conducted an Orientation on Micronutrient Supplementation Program and Goiter Awareness Week Celebration last 30 January 2012 at RC Daguinsin Hall, DOH-CHD Building. This was participated by provincial/municipal/city nutrition action officers, district/city nutrition program coordinators, provincial/city health workers and DOH-CHD provincial health team leaders.

The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2011-2016 was briefly presented by NPC Reario including the current status of malnutrition in the Bicol region. Speakers invited were from DOH Central Office and World Food Programme. Ms. Carol Bandahala, Chief Health Program Officer, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) of DOH, discussed the micronutrient supplementation program of DOH while Ms. Liberty V. Importa, Supervising Health Officer of the same office shared the overview of micronutrient powder as a strategy in addressing micronutrient deficiency. Ms. Rose Asis of the World Food Programme demonstrated the use of micronutrient powder. During the practicum, the participants prepared meals for children 8, 12 and 14 months from the family pot and later sprinkled this with micronutrient powder (MNP). Complementary food sprinkled with MNP tasted and smelled the same.

Micronutrient powder supplement for children 6-23 months contains 15 vitamins (A, B1-Thiamin, B2 Riboflavin, B3-niacin, B6-Pyridoxine, B12-cobalamin, C, D, E, folic acid) and minerals (Iron, Iodine, Copper, Zinc, Selenium) combined in one product that can be mixed in home prepared food comes in single-served sachet or packages for easy use at home. This supplementation program will prevent micronutrient deficiency that could result in retarded child growth, increased duration and severity of illness, increased child mortality and morbidity, impaired psychomotor and intellectual development, increased maternal morbidity and mortality, and inhibited women’s work. For children 6-11 months, 60 sachets will be provided for 6 months; while 12-23 months, 60 sachets will be provided for 6 months for a total of 120 sachets in a year.

Ms. Asis also provided the participants with a sample sachet of WFP micronutrient powder and a flyer for information and dissemination to the local health and nutrition networks. She added that that DOH-procured MNP has a different packaging. She further added the need for DOH to develop info materials to support the use of MNP. DOH committed to do this and added that delivery of MNP should be at CHD Bicol soon.
All the LGU participants went home excited with the use of the MNP and likewise apprehensive if indeed the government will be able to supply the required quantity to reach all the 6-23 months children in the region.