The City Government of Davao has recognized the high-ranking district nutrition program coordinators and barangay nutrition scholars for 2024 during the culmination of the 51st Nutrition Month held at SM Ecoland.
Ms. Christna Mordeno, Nutrition Officer II of Poblacion District B, and Ms. Eloisa Simbajon, Nutrition Officer II of the Talomo North District, were recognized as Outstanding District Nutrition Program coordinator for ranking first in the assessment.
Ms. Jesmir Ines Santos, Nutrition Officer II of Calinan District, was also recognized as she ranked second in the same assessment.
Ms. Josephine L. Castillion of Matina Crossing, Talomo Central District was recognized as 2024 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar.
Elizabeth Banzon, City Health Office (CHO) Nutrition Division head, told the City Information Office (CIO) that the district nutrition program coordinators and barangay nutrition scholars across 18 health districts in Davao City were assessed using the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro tool.
“Ang 18 districts ang gi-evaluate namo para mas ma-enganyo ang nutrition officers para mas musamot mag work (We evaluated the 18 districts to encourage nutrition officers to work harder),” Banzon said.
The culmination of the 51st Nutrition Month Celebration held at SM Ecoland Davao City was attended by barangay officials, barangay nutrition scholars, private partners and nutrition officers across Davao City.
Acting City Health Officer Dr. Tomas Miguel S. Ababon, during the program, reminded the participants that the Philippine Plan for Nutrition aims to secure the health of all ages, including pregnant women and the elderly. He emphasized that this year’s celebration tackles not just good food but nutritious and accessible food.
In a subsequent interview Ababon bared that the city is focused on strengthening the barangay nutrition councils to ensure that its health programs will be properly implemented.
“Naa gyud sa ilaha ang dako nga role, kaning pagbuhat og garden sa barangay, ang pag enganyo sa mga mothers na magtanom og mga gulay na makita nato nga naa sa backyard pero equivalent ang sustansya” (The BNCs has a big role in the creation of gardens in the barangay, in encouraging mothers to plant vegetables in their gardens that provide good nutrition), “ Ababon said.
Banzon said that about 90 percent of the 182 barangays in Davao City have barangay nutrition councils and they continue to assist barangays that did not form active BNCs yet.
Ababon encouraged Dabawenyos to focus on nutrition because it is the foundation of personal growth and progress.
“Para sa katawhan basta sakto sa pagkaon ang mga bata nato sakto sa pangisip ang pangutok, sakto ang pag-adto sa eskwelahan, sakto ang desisyon sa kinabuhi puhon, so magsugod gyud sa pinakasugod from womb to tomb ang nutrition (As long as our children have proper nutrition, their minds will develop properly, they’ll go to school properly, and they’ll make the right decisions in life later on. So nutrition must start from the very beginning — from the womb to the tomb),” Ababon said. CIO