In preparation for the implementation of the Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP) for pregnant women and 6-23 months old children, NNC 9 Provincial Nutrition Coordinator (PNC) for Zamboanga del Sur, Ms. Marie-Claire Gaas, conducted an orientation to Nutrition and Health Implementers in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur (ZDS) on April 16 and 19, 2021.

On April 16, 2021, PNC Gaas, visited the City Nutrition Office of Pagadian City to conduct the orientation where seven (7) Barangay Nutrition Scholars and four (4) City Nutrition Program Coordinators were in attendance. Then, on April 19, 2021, an orientation was conducted along with ZDS PNAO Ms. Grace Sumogue, PNO staff and to four (4) Nutritionist-Dieticians under the DOH-CHD9 deployed in ZDS.

PNC Gaas explained that the main objective of the DSP is to contribute to the prevention of stunting among children 0-23 months old by improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes and utilization of related ECCD F1KD services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 6-23 months old in the target Tutok Kainan program areas. The priority groups are nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women in their 3rd trimester, pregnant women in 3rd trimester and nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women regardless of gestational age.

Real-time reports on acceptance, inspection, distribution of commodities, and actual feeding will be sent to the system via SMS, which will be received directly at the NNC Central Office. Daily, weekly, and monthly summaries, by the barangay and municipality/city will also be generated, to determine if the targets are being met. For the follow up weights of pregnant women, it will be reported by the BNS on the 30th, 60th, and 90th day of feeding. Aside from reporting through SMS messaging, monitoring forms must also be accomplished down to the barangay level to keep track of their daily reports. This will also be reflected in the municipal and provincial monitoring template.

For other concerns, PNAO Ms. Grace Sumogue discussed how to fill out the Barangay Profiling Forms and Barangay Nutrition Action Plan to the NDDPs. DNPC Mr. Rey Marth Sulatorio also discussed the updated eOPT Plus tool. With the series of comprehensive orientation activities on the program, NNC9 is hopeful that these participants will augment the workforce of the program implementers as well as assist the agency in the monitoring of its developments.

PNC-ZDS Marie Claire A. Gaas