Esperanza Municipal Health Office - Nutrition Program

07/07/2025

🎯Esperanza LGU Launches 51st Nutrition Month with a Strong Call for Food and Nutrition Security

📍The Local Government Unit of Esperanza officially launched the 51st Nutrition Month Celebration during the Flag Raising Ceremony held at the Town Hall Plaza. With this year’s theme, “Food and Nutrition Security, Maging Priority – Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan ng Bawat Isa,” the celebration underscores the importance of accessible, sufficient, and nutritious food as a fundamental right of every Filipino.

The event was graced by municipal employees, uniformed personnel, barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), barangay health workers (BHWs), and local government officials. Mayor Charles Frederic R. Plotena delivered a message of full support for the National Nutrition Council’s initiatives, emphasizing the LGU’s commitment to promoting nutrition-related programs. He encouraged everyone present to take part in the planned activities and to contribute to creating a healthier and well-nourished community.

Providing an overview of the month-long celebration was Mr. Samuel A. Varona, RN, MAN, who highlighted the importance of sustained efforts in improving nutrition at the grassroots level. He also announced the series of activities lined up for the entire month, which aim to promote awareness, education, and community engagement on food and nutrition security.

Immediately following the flag ceremony, municipal employees participated in various health and wellness services offered by the Municipal Health Office (MHO) and the Human Resources for Health (HRH). These included:
• ✅Body Mass Index (BMI) and Ideal Body Weight assessments
• ✅Random Blood Sugar monitoring
. ✅Blood Pressure checking
• ✅PhilPEN Risk Assessment (Philippine Package of Essential NCD Interventions)
• ✅Personalized Nutrition Counseling
• ✅PhilHealth Konsulta orientation and services

Another highlight of the event was the launch of the “Healthy Workplace Program,” led by Health Education and Promotion Officer, Mr. Pol Ginate. This initiative aims to foster a supportive and health-conscious work environment for government employees, emphasizing prevention and wellness as integral parts of productivity.

The kick-off event was met with overwhelming participation, with a majority of municipal employees availing themselves of the free health services. It marked a promising start to the month-long celebration and reinforced the local government’s dedication to ensuring that every citizen enjoys the right to sufficient, nutritious food and a healthier life.

04/07/2025

We are pleased to share the official criteria and mechanics for our upcoming Nutrition Month Culmination activities!

These guidelines are designed to ensure a fun, fair, and meaningful celebration that highlights our theme “ Nutrition and Food Security Maging Priority, Sapat na Pagkain Karapatan Natin” We encourage everyone to review the details carefully and participate actively in the different events we have lined up.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Municipal Health Office (MHO) – Esperanza. We are here to assist you.🍎🍏




Credit to Maam Vicky our layout artist 🎈

03/07/2025

The Municipal Health Office, in collaboration with World Vision International–Sultan Kudarat, provided technical assistance during the implementation of the Positive Deviance/Hearth (PD Hearth) sessions conducted in seven barangays within the Municipality of Esperanza.

The PD Hearth approach, which stands for Positive Deviance for Health and Nutrition, focuses on identifying successful behaviors and practices demonstrated by families in the community who have well-nourished children despite facing similar economic challenges as others. These effective practices are then shared and taught to other families through structured community sessions.

Through this partnership, the Municipal Health Office and World Vision worked together to support community health workers and facilitators in carrying out nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and monitoring of child growth and development. The initiative aims to address malnutrition at the grassroots level by empowering families with practical, locally adapted strategies that are proven to improve children’s health outcomes.

01/07/2025

Esperanza LGU Launches “Gulayan sa Barangay” in Support of the HAPAG Project

On June 27, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Esperanza, through the Municipal Nutrition Committee, officially launched the “Gulayan sa Barangay – Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay sa Kabahayan” (HAPAG) Project at the Municipal Town Hall Audio-Visual Room (AVR).

The launching ceremony was attended by key stakeholders including members of the Rural Improvement Club, the Farmers’ Association, LGU employees, barangay officials, and representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Their presence demonstrated a strong show of support for the project’s goal of promoting food security and community resilience.

The HAPAG Project is a national government-led initiative designed to combat hunger and address food insecurity by encouraging Filipino households and communities to grow their own fruits and vegetables. This grassroots-level approach aims to improve nutrition and ensure access to safe, affordable, and healthy food, especially in rural and underserved areas.

This year’s celebration of Nutrition Month carries the theme “Food and Nutrition Security: Maging Priority – Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin,” emphasizing that access to nutritious food is a basic human right and a shared responsibility. The launch of Gulayan sa Barangay in Esperanza aligns with this theme, giving the occasion greater relevance and impact.

One of the program highlights was the Signing of a Commitment Pledge by various community leaders and stakeholders. This act symbolized their collective dedication to the successful implementation and sustainability of the HAPAG Project in the municipality.

Through this project, the LGU of Esperanza reaffirms its commitment to improving the health and well-being of its constituents by promoting sustainable agriculture and community participation.

30/06/2025

HAPPY 51ST NUTRITION MONTH ESPERANZAHANON!!

Nutrition Month is the annual campaign to create greater nutrition awareness among Filipinos, pursuant to Section 7 of Presidential Decree No. 491 of 1974, also known as the Nutrition Act of the Philippines. The law declared July as Nutrition Month and mandated the National Nutrition Council to lead the campaign.

51st Nutrition Month Theme : " Food Nutrition Security Maging Priority, Sapat na Pagkain Karapatan Natin."

This year’s Nutrition Month campaign aims to highlight that healthy diets should not be viewed as a luxury, but as a basic necessity and a human right that is unconditionally accessible and available to all Filipino families. It emphasizes that every individual has the right to proper nutrition, regardless of their economic status, and that a healthy diet is essential for promoting well-being and preventing malnutrition. The campaign calls for a collective effort to ensure that nutritious food is within reach for every Filipino household, reinforcing the idea that food and nutrition security is fundamental to human dignity and health.

The Municipal Nutrition Committee developed series of program and activities to highlights this year Nutrition Month Celebration!!
Please see posters and print adds details for more information on how you can be part of this momentous celebration of Nutrition Month!

25/06/2025

18/06/2025

🎯Nutri-Ganap

The RHU Esperanza Nutrition Unit provided technical assistance to World Vision International during their Positive Deviance/Hearth (PD/Hearth) meeting with local health workers. As part of the collaboration, Ms. Blessing ,RND delivered a comprehensive presentation on the current nutrition situation in the municipality. In addition, she facilitated an informative lecture focused on food hygiene and child malnutrition, emphasizing key practices to promote better health outcomes for children and families within the community.”

Mr Khent Gerard Diaz Program Officer of World Vision -Sultan Kudarat facilitated the training.

18/06/2025

Today RHU Esperanza Human Milk Hub has received thoughtful tokens of appreciation from our human milk beneficiaries. These items are intended to be shared with our generous milk donors as a gesture of gratitude for their selfless contribution

03/06/2025

Today, our birthing home was blessed with a heartwarming visit from a kind-hearted mother and her lovely daughter. They generously brought along a beautiful collection of gently used baby clothes, lovingly selected to be shared with the newborns in our care. Their thoughtful donation will go a long way in supporting the families we serve, and we are deeply grateful for their compassion and generosity. Acts of kindness like this remind us of the strong community spirit that surrounds our birthing home. Thank you, Mama and Lola, for making a difference in the lives of our little ones!

31/05/2025

2nd Quarter Meeting of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS)
and Showcase of Best Practices in Nutrition
📌 Held at Barangay Paitan

The 2nd Quarter Meeting of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) was successfully conducted at Barangay Paitan, gathering BNS representatives from various barangays to review accomplishments, align on priorities, and highlight best practices in local nutrition efforts.

🗂️ Meeting Agenda Highlights:

✅ Presentation of the Nutrition Situation
A detailed report was presented based on the Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) 2025 results, which provided an updated snapshot of the nutritional status of the community, including trends in undernutrition, stunting, and other health indicators.

✅ BNS Monthly Accomplishment Reports and Deliverables
Barangay Nutrition Scholars shared their accomplishments over the past months, covering outreach activities, nutrition education, household visits, data monitoring, and their contributions to various health initiatives. These reports served as a way to track progress and identify areas needing further support.

✅ Preparation for the 2025 Nutrition Month Celebration
Plans and proposed activities for the upcoming Nutrition Month were discussed, aiming to engage the community through feeding programs, information drives, and fun, educational activities that promote healthier food choices and lifestyles.

✅ Other BNS Matters
Additional concerns, updates, and operational matters affecting BNS work were also discussed to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.

👨‍⚕️ The meeting was presided over by Mr. Samuel A. Verona, RN, MAN, the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO), who provided valuable insights and guidance to further enhance the effectiveness of local nutrition programs.

🎉 Acknowledgment of New BNS
Newly designated Barangay Nutrition Scholars were also warmly welcomed and recognized during the event, encouraging them as they step into their vital role in community health promotion.

🌱 Benchmarking of Good Practices
The venue at Barangay Paitan served as a learning ground, showcasing effective and replicable nutrition practices. These success stories provided inspiration and practical ideas for implementation in other barangays.

👏 Congratulations and Thank you BNS for a job well done on 1st Semester of Nutrition Implementation in your Barangay