CL nutrition shepherding team tapped for technical assistance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The 24member Central Luzon Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team or RNST has been tapped by the Department of Health and National Nutrition Council (NNC) to provide technical assistance to local government units in the mobilization and implementation of effective nutrition program management .

Resolution No. 1, Series of 2022 or the adoption of the Implementing Guidelines on Nutrition Shepherding Project for Effective Nutrition Program Management in the region has been approved by the Regional Nutrition Committee.

Under the resolution, RNST will shepherd priority local government units (LGUs) on the effective nutrition program management focusing on nutrition policies, nutrition planning and budgeting, and local nutrition structures and human resources.

RNST members are also tasked to review the nutrition situation of priority LGUs and determine gaps in nutrition program implementation and management; as well as assist in identifying solutions to address identified gaps.

The team members are also expected to share their knowledge, skills, experiences, and proven strategies that may contribute to finding solutions to the identified implementation gaps as applicable and suitable to the priority LGUs.

NNC Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo said part of the tasks of the shepherding team is to advocate for the integration of nutrition in local policies.

She also mentioned local development plans and budget and to monitor the progress of implementing the action points or re-entry plan of the priority LGUs and provide supportive super vi si on.

“We have been extending assistance to our LGUs for a long time especially when we are conducting the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI).

However, this is not structured. It is only on an on-call basis and based only on what we saw as a result of the MELLPI," Rosaldo said.

"With this RNST, our technical assistance is now more structured so we can focus on the LGUs until they become self-propelled, their local nutrition committees are functional, and they can also shepherd other LGUs. They can also adopt the strategies used by the RNST in their component cities and municipalities,” she added.

The NNC said that the commissioning of the RNST is fitting as it demonstrates solidarity of actions toward building resilient and well-nourished constituents of Central Luzon towards the achievement of the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition and Ambisyon 2040.