PSND participated in the development of Nutrition Practice Guidelines (NPG) on screening and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for health professionals in the Primary Care Setting was spearheaded by the Nutritional Assessment and Monitoring Division of Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) – DOST.
These NPGs will be used to standardize the nutrition management of specific disease conditions intended for health professionals and health workers in the primary care setting such as health centers or Rural Health Units (RHUs) since this is where most people in the community go to avail services either for check-up or follow-up consultation.
The initial step conducted in the development of NPGs is the creation of the Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of professionals, practitioners, researches and experts from DOST-FNRI technical staff, national agencies and representatives of health and nutrition organizations. PSND Vice President, Ms. Anna Orillo and PSND Auditor, Ms. Donnabelle Navarrete enlisted in the hypertension group where they rendered their expertise.
The first workshop with the members of the TWG was conducted last March 2016 to introduce the methods and processes in the development of NPGs. From April 2016 to April 2017, the Technical research Committee (TRC) continued to appraise literatures.
After series of revisions, the TWG presented the recommendations, summary of evidences and appraisal to the first Stakeholders’ Forum held last May 12 in Orchid Garden Suites, Manila for consensus decision making process.
Among the highlights in the first Stakeholders’ Forum include discussions of the two NCD conditions and diseases such as Hypertension and Diabetes. IT WAS followed by Dyslipidemia and Weight Management for Overweight & Obese on the 2nd Stakeholders’ forum where PSND President, Ms. Natalie Pulvinar and PSND Adviser, Dr Corazon VC Barba attended IN the whole day session.
A moderated discussion was facilitated by Dr. Cecilia Santos-Acuin, then Chief Science Research Specialist to allow participants make clarifications on each statement and details, thus producing clear and easy to understand recommendations.
It is hoped that on the 3rd Stakeholders’ Forum, FNRI will be able to consolidate inputs from professional experts and practitioners and eventually produce reliable and relevant Nutrition Practice Guidelines.