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RNC: There's a minimal effect of the pandemic on nutrition

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TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Key members of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) region 2 revealed that there was a minimal effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and nutrition of the people in Cagayan Valley Region. 

Nerissa L. Mabbayad, nutritionist and dietician of the Department of Health (DOH), said despite the disruptions of some health services on the ground due to restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of the virus in 2020, there was a very minimal increase on "wasting" cases in the region. 

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"There were services that were hampered including the implementation of the micronutrient supplementation, exclusive breastfeeding and others. Food security was also one of the concerns then but the impact was not severe," Mabbayad said.

Ma. Gisela Lonzaga, program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), on the other hand, said in 2021 when the health protocols were relaxed and economic activities returned back into normal, the nutrition and health of the people also improved well. 

However, Lonzaga said the overweight and obesity prevalence among children has  increased. 

"This might be because of the restrictions in which the children were confined at home so they have higher food intake, especially that food delivery is the trend now. They also have lesser physical exercises," Lonzaga added. 

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Edwardson Tad-o of DSWD-2 discusses their interventions during the COVID pandemic for pre-school children.
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On his part, Edwardson Tad-o of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also affirmed that despite the challenging program implementation in the ground during the pandemic, the social workers were able to distribute the goods for the supplemental feeding program intended for those in the preschool and in daycare centers. 

He said they were able to monitor also the improvement of the children's nutrition. 

Tad-o also lauded the efforts of the various government agencies, local government units and civic organizations for sharing goods with the affected families during the height of the COVID pandemic in region 2 which contributed to the minimal impact of the pandemic on public health and nutrition. (OTB/PIA Cagayan) 

About the Author

Oliver Baccay

Information Officer IV

Region 2

  • Assistant Regional Director, Philippine Information Agency Region 2
  • Graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication 
  • Graduate of Master of Arts in Education, major in English
  • Graduate of Doctor in Public Administration

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