NNC7 shepherds LGUs in CV to integrate nutrition in local investment, devt plan

BORBON, Cebu--The National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Region-7 continues to shepherd various local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas to strengthen the nutrition program management and improve local nutrition governance in line with the Philippine Plan Action for Nutrition (PPAN), a six-year plan to improve nutrition in the country through 2028.

“The 2024 Nutrition Shepherding Project aims aid LGUs to help strengthen their nutrition program management and improve their local nutrition governance.  The Team is expected to review the recent nutrition situation of priority LGUs and help identify gaps in their management of the nutrition program,” NNC7 regional nutrition coordinator Dr. Parolita Mission shared in an interview with the Cebu Online News Press Corps (CONPC).

Mission said that the regional monitoring team assists local nutrition workers in integrating nutrition in local policies, local development and investment plans and budgeting, which was done in Borbon town, Cebu on December 3.

Target LGUs for shepherding and monitoring activities are those with potential to be nutrition champions and low functional LGUs according to the LNC functionality score cards and based on criteria agreed by the LGU shepherding team and the Regional Nutrition Council (RNC) full committee, Mission explained.

In 2024, the Central Visayas RNST targets the following LGUs in Cebu that include Bogo City, Borbon, Danao, Tabuelan, Balamban, Compostela, Carcar City, Talisay City and Boljoon. The Team schedules visits and other follow-up activities as the RNST finds necessary to ensure that LGUs are guided to include nutrition programs in the local budgets.

The shepherding teams to be deployed are based on the target LGU needs with a database to be prepared by the NNC7 secretariat based on the LGU's MELLPI Pro scores, LNC functionality monitoring report, OPT Plus report and other relevant reports, Mission said.

On December 3, members of the Regional Nutrition Committee-Technical Working Group, renamed as Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST) conducted a one-day shepherding activities in Borbon town in Cebu.

“With regards to the nutrition program here in Borbon, 100% in place jud ang implementation because I started this when I was still a member of the council being the chair of the committee on health and we sustain these nutrition programs here where we garnered six awards as nutrition champions given by the NNC7, DOH and the Province,” Borbon Mayor Noel Dotillos told the CONPC coverage team.

Mayor Dotilos said that Borbon has limited fund for local programs but he always prioritizes health and nutrition activities noting that an early intervention especially on health and nutrition programs intended for children, pregnant women and the first 1000 days bring out the best health care from the government, he said.

The local health unit in Borbon proudly shared that the town has a health laboratory where townsfolks can come and avail of all lab tests and screening that proved to be the best investment of the town.

What is Nutrition Shepherding?

Nutrition Shepherding is a concept that started in 2016 in Central Visayas and was previously referred to as "LGU Nurturing", where members of the Regional Nutrition Committee-Technical Working Group and the Human Resource for Nutrition (HRH-NS) visit select municipalities to assist, engage low performing LGUs to mentor and provide technical assistance to local nutrition workers and members of the local nutrition committees to improve the efficiency of nutrition program management.

Members of the RNST advises priority LGUs on how to effectively administer their nutrition programs, focusing on three major areas-- nutrition policies; nutrition planning and budgeting; and local nutrition structures and human resources.

The mentoring would entail the transfer of technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for effective local nutrition program management. Expected output of the LGU Shepherding include the Local Nutrition Action Plan; Local Nutrition Committee Functionality; PPAN Accomplishment Report; List of gaps and/or areas of improvements and recommendations; Written feedbacks to LGUs and a documentation report of the entire program.

According to the Borbon local health team that the shepherding project has helped the municipal and barangay health workers in enhancing their knowledge, skills and attitudes on how to manage nutrition programs in the communities. (Photos: CONPC Coverage Team)