Bontoc gets reg’l nutrition award, NNC citation

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Bontoc received a certificate of commendation and token from the National Nutrition Council as one of 2020 regional nutrition awardees.
    In behalf of Mayor Franklin C. Odsey who chairs the Municipal Nutrition Council, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Venous Faith Cofulan of the Municipal Health Office received the award during the Virtual 2020 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on Oct. 20.
    Bontoc is one of the only 25 local government units in Cordillera with below 10% stunting prevalence in 2019.
    Other local government awardees in Mountain Province with below 10% stunting prevalence in 2019 were municipalities of Natonin and Tadian
    Cofulan said the award was based on effectiveness in implementation of nutrition programs of the Bontoc LGU through the MNC. 
    For this year, it focused on result of Operation Timbang Plus conducted on children ages 0-59 months in 16 barangays of Bontoc in 2019.
    She added among nutrition programs conducted by the Bontoc LGU were regular OPT and OPT validation, Search for the Healthiest Mother and Baby, and the Chagsen Challenge (Search for Biggest Loser). 
    The Chagsen Challenge is a newly conceptualized lifestyle program of the Bontoc government which aimed to promote health and wellness among the employees of the municipal government and the public.
    The program aimed to make the public lose weight through natural means of proper food intake and regular exercise.
    The activity was proposed by Sangguniang Bayan member Jerome Tudlong, Jr. who chairs the committee on health and sanitation in collaboration with the Municipal Health Office.   
    For year 2020, some of the programs of the Bontoc LGU relative to nutrition were regular conduct of OPT Plus and OPT validation, Search for the Best Performing Barangay Nutrition Council, Search for the Healthiest Places covering barangays, and elementary and secondary schools, giving of vegetable seedlings to parents of malnourished children for their backyard gardening, free - range chicks to 18 parents of malnourished children, and Chagsen Challenge –Team Edition.
    The other lined-up activities for this year that were not implemented due to Covid-19 were Search for the Healthiest Mother and Baby, Search for Best Gulayan sa Paaralan (elementary and secondary schools), Search for Healthiest Under-Five in Terms of Height, and Weekly Zumba.