Last April 13, 2021, the National Nutrition Council Region IX conducted an online focus group discussion (FGD) in relation to the Philippine Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) called the KUMAIN project. Said activity was with the IP leaders and representatives in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. It was participated with twelve (12) IP leaders and representatives from the municipalities of Liloy, Mutia, Sergio Osmeña, Siocon of Zamboanga del Norte and municipalities of Guipos, Midsalip, Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot, Tigbao of Zamboanga del Sur. This focus group discussion aims to gather inputs and suggestions from prospective IP stakeholders and beneficiaries and to assess the health and nutrition situation of the communities under the proposed target areas of Philippine Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP).

During the FGD, the respondents were asked on their personal experience and first hand information on the health and nutrition concerns or problems which are most common in their communities, gender issues in relation to health and nutrition concerns experienced in the communities, appropriate nutrition-sensitive programs to address the health and nutrition concerns in the community, and their recommendations for PMNP. The activity was able to collect information such as the most common health concerns were the increased number of common respiratory illnesses due to incomplete immunization of infants because of their traditional and/or cultural beliefs. Contributing to this condition were the poor dietary habits of the IPs from the consumption of plant-based foods and eliminating protein-rich sources. And the use of unsafe water sources from the deep well that isn’t tested for water sanitation. This is mainly due to lack of health and nutrition knowledge as programs and activity was noted to have not reached the IPs and GIDA communities effectively according to the IP Leader of Siocon. Thus malnutrition was significant in this population One reason they provided was the lack of numbers of healthcare workers to monitor the health and nutrition issues of the community.

Although health and nutrition related programs and projects are present and being implemented in the community and agreed to have a significant impact in the overall condition of the people living in the community, there were vital factors identified that affect the efficacy and efficiency of these said programs. According to the respondents the distance of the health units to their houses, lack of health workers, no proper scheduling of activities (like schedules for immunization, etc) and the fear of the mothers and the family members to visit the center due to coronavirus threat are some of the identified concerns that hinders the monitoring of the programs making it ineffective.

The LGU plays an important role in the dissemination of the program and needs to double its efforts in reaching the IP population. Even with the current threat of COVID-19, monitoring, information dissemination and service delivery should be implemented to address the posing problem of malnutrition and other health-related problems in the community. With the continuous efforts of the national government down the local government units, we hope for the better programs and /or projects leading to good outcomes.

NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar