Bontoc, Mountain Province – Bontoc is the lone awardee in Mountain Province to receive two awards from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) during the Virtual Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 20, 2021.
The Municipal Nutrition Council (MNC) of Bontoc received a Plaque of Recognition from the NNC as the first time and only awardee in Mountain Province on Municipality with Continuous Decrease in Stunting Prevalence from 2018-2019, and another Plaque of Recognition as the second time and sole awardee in Mountain Province with less than 10% Stunting Prevalence.
The award is based on the effectiveness and efficiency in planning, management, and implementation of the nutrition programs of the local governments through their respective nutrition councils.
This year, it focuses on the result of the Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus conducted on children ages 0-59 months in the 16 barangays of Bontoc from 2018-2021.
Per record from the Municipal Health Office (MHO), Bontoc has recorded a 15.15% stunting prevalence rate in 2018. In 2019, it gradually decreased to 7. 67%. It decreased to 7.09% in 2020.
On behalf of Mayor Franklin Odsey who also chairs the MNC, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Venous Faith Cofulan, Nurse II Oliver Gacusana and Nurse II Debbie Alynna Balantican, all from the MHO attended the Virtual 2021 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony.
In an interview, Odsey said that the awards are collaborative efforts of the Bontoc LGU and its partner agencies and stakeholders in implementing programs and improving the nutritional status of the people in the community, particularly infants, children, and mothers.
“The awards accorded to Bontoc embody the unending commitment of the government to improve the nutritional status in the country, where no one is left behind. With this, I thank you for all your efforts and contributions in the delivery of nutrition services down to the grassroots- the community,” the mayor remarked.
Among the nutrition programs conducted by the Bontoc LGU are the regular OPT and OPT validation; monthly monitoring of malnourished cases; and intensive and continuous Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to adolescents and lactating mothers on malnutrition prevention.
As an intervention, families with malnourished children were provided with a livelihood through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg). They were provided with free-range chicken and were encouraged to venture into brown egg production.
Also, the Bontoc MNC continuously promotes backyard gardening of which the OMAg has provided vegetable seedling to the parents of malnourished children.
Aside from these initiatives, the free newborn screening program of Bontoc LGU is serving its purpose especially that home deliveries and delivery in barangay birthing clinics still occur, particularly in far-flung barangays. The result of the newborn screening allows health professionals to administer treatment to mitigate and control the effects.
Meanwhile, a Special Award was accorded to the Barangay Nutrition Council of Bontoc Ili for landing in third place in the Cordillera Nutrisong 2021 Contest.
The Nutrition Awarding Ceremony is an annual event carried out by NNC to recognize LGUs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) who excelled in nutrition in their respective areas.// Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
