Cagayan de Oro City also known as the “City of Golden Frienship” for its hospitable, exquisite, and friendly “Kagay-anons” is a 1st class highly urbanized city. It is the growing center of commerce, and education, the regional center and business hub of Northern Mindanao and part of the growing Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro area.
The City Nutrition Committee (CNC) together with City Nutrition Action Officer Nenita F. Rabe, RND and with the full support of the City Health Office is truly committed in sustaining the delivery of nutrition services through effective and efficient nutrition program management. Each effort of the CNC brings them one step closer to their vision of having “a well-nourished and healthy “Kagay-anons”.
How did Cagayan de Oro City maintain its standing in the roster of performing LGUs in the region? Read through their initiatives and good practices below:
- Breastfeeding Infant and Young Child Feeding Helpline
Taking off from their 2020 initiative, in 2021, one of the notable programs of the city of Cagayan de Oro is the Breastfeeding Infant and Young Child Feeding Helpline through CDO Breastfeeding and IYCF Task Force and City Health Office. This helpline aims to continually promote optimum nutrition in the First 1000 Days of life by digitally addressing questions and concerns about breastfeeding and how to provide good nutrition to infants and children amidst the pandemic. For 2021, they were able to assist 82 pregnant and lactating mothers through text, SMS, and via Facebook.
- Garantisadong Pambata and Health Forum
The Cagayan de Oro CNC promotes inclusivity in managing nutrition programs by prioritizing the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) in terms of promoting basic services on maternal, child health, and nutrition. Pregnant, lactating mothers and parents with children below 5 years old attended the Garantisadong Pambata and Health Forum in Barangays Pagalungan, Taglimao and Tagpangi. The forum series also gave light on adopting new normal practices such as wearing of face mask, handwashing, and social distancing.
- Zero SAM sa Oro
With its tagline “Saktong Nutrisyon para kay SAM” program under the Philippine Integrated Management for Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM), the Cagayan de Oro CNC intensifies Zero SAM sa Oro campaign to eradicate severe acute malnutrition through provision of RUTF (Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food), distribution of food packs, feeding program in barangay health centers, and nutrition counseling. A total of 40 severely acute malnourished children were rehabilitated under this program.
- Himsog nga F1K
Among the nutrition-specific interventions by the CNC is the Himsog nga F1K which is an umbrella program that covers dietary supplementation program for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children 6-24 months old. As one of the critical interventions during the First 1000 Days period, the 120-day feeding program was funded by CHO-CNC, Barangay Nutrition Committees and NGOs like Cagayan de Misamis Eagles Club and Grand CDO Eagles Club, Rotary Club, MASSA, HAPAG-ASA, and Rotaract Carmen.
- Hataw ta Higala sa Panahon ng Pandemya
This is a virtual dance fitness program participated by CHO personnel and aired via Facebook live as way to promote physical activity. Hataw ta Higala is still sustained by the CNC every week.
- Urban Container Household Gardening (UCHG) Program
Since 2014 up to present, Cagayan de Oro has implemented the UCHG Program intended to support a total of 800 members of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps). The goal of UCHG is for every household to have physical, social and economic access to safe, sufficient, affordable and nutritious food at all times.
With all these interventions and collaborations among nutrition partners and stakeholders, the CDO CNC sustained the reduction in malnutrition. Specifically, wasting prevalence of preschool children decreased from 0.28% to 0.07%, while stunting prevalence reduced from 1.1% to 0.44%, and overweight and obesity decreased from 0.2% to 0.13%, from 2019 to 2021, respectively.
The combined efforts and support of the City and Barangay Nutrition Committees, City Nutrition Office, health and nutrition workers, and constituents brings the city one step closer to achieving the Nutrition Honor Award, the highest award in nutrition. (CNPC Sherill Faith P. Española/ NNC X)