Quezon Provincial Nutrition Action Office

28/01/2026

26/01/2026

Sa pangungunang muli ng PHO–Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO), matagumpay na naisagawa ang Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) Orientation and Updates Batch II nitong Enero 21, 2026 sa pamamagitan muli ng Zoom Platform. Dinaluhan ito ng mga MNAO, MNPC, Encoders, at BNS mula sa iba’t ibang bayan ng Lalawigan ng Quezon.

Muling binigyang-diin ng oryentasyong ito ang paggamit ng resulta ng OPT bilang batayan sa pagpaplano at pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangnutrisyon sa antas-barangay at munisipalidad, maibahagi ang mga pinakabagong gabay at pamamaraan sa wastong pagsukat ng timbang at taas ng mga batang 0–59 buwang gulang, tamang pangangalap at pag-encode ng datos, at mga kinakailangang ulat upang matiyak ang tama at maaasahang impormasyon sa nutrisyon

Kasama rin sa mga tinalakay ang ibat ibang paalala tulad sa pagsusumite ng mga datos na kinakailangan, iskedyul ng mga bayan na susuriin sa darating na MELLPI ngayong taon.

Sa kabuuan, napalakas ng aktibidad ang kakayahan at koordinasyon ng mga lokal na tagapagpatupad ng nutrisyon at higit pang pinagtibay ang pangako ng Lalawigan ng Quezon sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa para sa mas maayos na kalusugan at nutrisyon ng mga komunidad.

26/01/2026

20/01/2026

𝐃𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀 𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝

According to the World Health Organization (2023), soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people, about 24 percent of the global population. This disease affects the poorest communities especially in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly those with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.

STH infections are transmitted through contaminated soil and water. This mode of transmission makes children aged 1 to 12 years especially vulnerable, as they often play on the ground and may put their hands or fingers in their mouths without washing them. Poor hygiene practices contribute significantly to the spread of intestinal worms. These include open defecation, eating without washing hands, consuming contaminated food or water, and walking barefoot on infected soil. Worms can enter the body through the mouth via dirty hands or improperly washed food, or through the skin, particularly when walking barefoot on contaminated ground.

In the Philippines, intestinal worm infection remains a serious public health concern, particularly among children. These infections significantly compromise a child’s nutritional status, leading to nutrient deficiencies, weakness, fatigue, impaired physical and mental development, and poor performance in school and daily activities (DepEd, 2018).

To address this, the WHO recommends periodic medicinal treatment, also known as deworming. The goal of regular treatment is to reduce and keep infection intensity low, thereby protecting at-risk populations, especially children, from morbidity.

Deworming is a proven, effective, and affordable strategy for preventing and controlling STH infections. It involves the administration of anthelmintic drugs that kill parasitic worms or inhibit their growth and reproduction. These medications are safe, effective, affordable, and come in flavored, chewable tablets suitable for children. Deworming tablets work by paralyzing the worms, eventually leading to their death. These medicines are safe for all children aged one year and above and require only a single dose regardless of body weight.

In the Philippines, mass deworming for children aged 1 to 12 years is conducted twice a year. The Mass Deworming Program, also known as the Integrated Helminth Control Program (IHCP), is a key initiative of the Philippine government to control STH infections. Guided by WHO recommendations, the program integrates Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), implements the National Deworming Month every January and July.

According to DOH Administrative Order No. 2010-0023, Guidelines on Deworming Drug Administration and Management of Adverse events following Deworming (AEFD), preschool children aged 1 to 5 years, deworming is carried out during the nationwide Garantisadong Pambata (GP) campaign every April and October. Schoolchildren, on the other hand, are dewormed every January and July in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2006-0028. School-based deworming is conducted in schools, while some preschool age children, out-of-school youth, pregnant and lactating women, and other special groups receive deworming services at Rural Health Units or Municipal Health Centers (DepEd, 2018).

How to Prevent Worm Infection?
● Deworm twice a year. Regular deworming kills worms and prevents the spread of worm eggs that cause reinfection.
● Avoid open defecation. Open defecation contaminates soil and water with worm eggs, which can be carried by flies and spread to food.
● Wear slippers or shoes. Some worms, such as hookworms, can enter the body directly through the skin.
● Wash hands with soap. Always wash hands after using the toilet, after contact with soil, and before eating or preparing food.
● Wash and cook vegetables thoroughly. Worm eggs can survive in soil for months and contaminate vegetables grown on the ground. Proper washing and cooking help eliminate these eggs.

Regular deworming plays a vital role in improving a child’s overall health and nutritional status. It is an important strategy in addressing stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, as it reduces parasite load and allows the body to better absorb and utilize nutrients from food. When combined with proper hygiene practices and improved sanitation, it becomes a powerful collective effort to protect children from intestinal worm infections, allowing them to grow healthier, stronger, and better equipped to reach their full potential.

(Project Development Officer I Candice Margarette Mongas / nnc_x@yahoo.com / 09631091098).

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/sth/about/index.html

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Intestinal parasites. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/intestinal-parasites

Department of Education. (2018). TSA WinS booklet: Deworming. Retrieved fromhttps://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TSA-WinS-Booklet-Deworming-PRINT-20181031.pdf

Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute. (2018). Policy statement no. 20: Deworming may help prevent stunting. Retrieved fromhttps://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/images/sources/PolicyStatement/PS20.pdf

Supreme Court of the Philippines. (n.d.). [E-Library document]. Retrieved from https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/11/56054

World Health Organization. (2018). Deworming: Every girl and every woman has the right to be treated. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/02-02-2018-deworming-every-girl-and-every-woman-has-the-right-to-be-treated

World Health Organization. (2023). Deworming in children (ELENA interventions). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/deworming

World Health Organization. (2023). Soil-transmitted helminth infections. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections

20/01/2026

‼️TAMANG NUTRISYON SA MGA BATA, DAPAT TUTUKAN‼️

Ang stunting o pagiging pandak at maliit ang pangangatawan dahil sa chronic malnutrition ay nakaaapekto sa 1 sa bawat 3 batang Pilipino na wala pang limang taong gulang, na maaaring magdulot ng panghabambuhay na epekto sa kanilang kalusugan at pag-unlad.

Higit na maunawaan ng lahat ang malubhang epekto ng malnutrisyon, hindi lamang ang gutom o pagpayat, kundi pati ang mga sakit mula sa kakulangan o labis na nutrisyon.

15/01/2026

Sa pangunguna ng PHO–Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO), matagumpay na naisagawa ang Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) Orientation and Updates noong Enero 15, 2026 sa pamamagitan ng Zoom. Dinaluhan ito ng mga MNAO, MNPC, Encoders, at BNS mula sa iba’t ibang bayan ng Lalawigan ng Quezon.

Binigyang-diin ng oryentasyong ito ang paggamit ng resulta ng OPT bilang batayan sa pagpaplano at pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangnutrisyon sa antas-barangay at munisipalidad, maibahagi ang mga pinakabagong gabay at pamamaraan sa wastong pagsukat ng timbang at taas ng mga batang 0–59 buwang gulang, tamang pangangalap at pag-encode ng datos, at mga kinakailangang ulat upang matiyak ang tama at maaasahang impormasyon sa nutrisyon.

Sa kabuuan, napalakas ng aktibidad ang kakayahan at koordinasyon ng mga lokal na tagapagpatupad ng nutrisyon at higit pang pinagtibay ang pangako ng Lalawigan ng Quezon sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa para sa mas maayos na kalusugan at nutrisyon ng mga komunidad.

15/01/2026

Bago pa man siya ipinanganak, nagsisimula na ang proteksyon ni baby.
Sa bawat bakuna ni Mommy, sa bawat checkup, at sa bawat payo mula sa doktor o midwife, unti-unting nabubuo ang depensa laban sa sakit.

Ang mga bakuna tulad ng Tetanus Toxoid (TT), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis (Tdap), at Flu (Influenza) vaccine ay nagbibigay ng proteksyon hindi lang kay Mommy, kundi pati kay Baby sa sinapupunan.
Kapag kumpleto ang alaga at proteksyon sa unang 1,000 araw, mas malaki ang tsansa ng mas malusog, mas ligtas, at mas masiglang paglaki ni baby.
Naniniwala rin ba kayo na pag protektado si Mommy, protektado na rin si Baby? 💕

13/01/2026

The Provincial Government of Quezon (PGQ), through the Nutrition Unit of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) – Health Service Delivery Division and the Provincial Nutrition Multisectoral Council (PNMC), proudly won the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award. The award was received by Governor Angelina “Doktora Helen” Tan, together with Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Kristin Mae-Jean Villaseñor, Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Lorelie G. Salonga, and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Miss Joan Maricel Zeta-Decena.

Among the province’s notable initiatives are the Tamang Aksyon sa Nutrition program, including the production and distribution of enhanced nutribuns, complementary foods and supplements, the QPHN Healing Vegetable Garden, TeleNutrition, various feeding programs, and nutrition education materials under Kusina ni Doktora Helen, as well as continuous trainings for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs), and hospital-based nutritionist-dietitians. These programs are strongly aligned with the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act.

Also recognized during the event was Miss Joan Maricel Zeta-Decena, who was awarded Most Outstanding Provincial Nutrition Action Officer 2024 for her excellent technical competence, significant accomplishments, and unwavering dedication to advancing nutrition programs in the province.

13/01/2026

12/12/2025

Pagdiriwang ng 2025 Provincial Children’s Month ng Lalawigan ng Quezon!

Sa temang “OSAEC–CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!”, matagumpay na idinaos ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Quezon ang 2025 Provincial Children’s Month Celebration na pinangunahan ni Hon. Gov. Angelina “Doktora Helen” D.L. Tan.

Binigyang-diin ni Doktora Helen ang patuloy na pangangalaga, pagtataguyod, at pagtatanggol sa karapatan ng bawat batang Quezonian sa kanyang 2025 Provincial State of the Children Report, kung saan inilahad niya ang mga programa, tagumpay, at patuloy na hakbang ng lalawigan para sa kapakanan ng kabataan.

Bilang dagdag na pagkilala sa pagsisikap ng lalawigan, natanggap ng Lalawigan ng Quezon ang Plake ng Pagkilala mula sa Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), na iginawad sa pamamagitan ni Executive Director V Undersecretary Angelo M. Tapales. Ito’y simbolo ng natatanging Provincial Government na kinilala dahil sa napakahusay na aktibong pakikilahok at masigasig na pagtugon ng Quezon para sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan, patunay ng pangunguna ng lalawigan sa adbokasiyang pangbata.

Dumalo sa programa ang mga kasapi ng Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) mula sa iba’t ibang tanggapan ng pamahalaang panlalawigan. Isa rin sa mga pangunahing bahagi ng selebrasyon ang pagbibigay o paggawad ng Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance sa piling mga LGU ng Lalawigan ng Quezon bilang pagkilala sa kanilang masigasig na pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangbata.

Nakiisa sa pagdiriwang ang PHO–Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO) na kinatawan nina Ms. Joan Maricel Zeta-Decena, RND, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, at Ms. Suzette Anne M. Villafañe, RND, District Nutrition Provincial Coordinator. Ipinakita ng kanilang presensya ang buong suporta at pakikiisa ng PNAO sa mga programang naglalayong palakasin ang nutrisyon, proteksyon, at kabuuang kapakanan ng mga bata sa lalawigan. Tampok din sa selebrasyon ang masigla at malikhaing mga Children’s Contest gaya ng Draw and Tell, Singing/Palit-Awit, Folk Dance, at Modern Dance, na nagbigay saya at pagkakataon para maipamalas ng mga bata ang kanilang talento at pagiging malikhain.

Isang makabuluhan, makulay, at masayang pagdiriwang na muling nagpapatunay na sa Lalawigan ng Quezon, ang kaligtasan, karapatan, at kinabukasan ng bata ay tunay na ipinaglalaban!

-PNAO