NNC trains stakeholders on nutrition during emergencies

GEN. SANTOS
CITY – Nutrition stakeholders and disaster officials in Region 12 are now
equipped with knowledge and understanding on nutrition during emergencies.

And local
government units across the SOCCSKSARGEN region are in the process of creating
their respective Nutrition Clusters which will work during emergencies, both
man-made and natural.

Arceli M.
Latonio, Nutrition program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council-12,
said the latest of the series of training on Nutrition Emergencies intended for
local government units was conducted in Sun City Suites last June 27.

Attended by 19
participants from Banga, Tampakan, Norala, Tboli, Isulan, Kiamba, Malapatan,
Glan, Magpet, President Roxas, Makilala, Kidapawan City and Sarangani was aimed
at capacitating the nutrition program managers and nutrition cluster members
working in emergencies on the same level of knowledge and understanding on
nutrition in emergencies.

Latonio said
through this, it will enable them to address the vulnerabilities of
multi-hazards situations.

The training,
Latonio said, also aimed at building individual knowledge and skills while
building a sense of teamwork and collaboration.

Participation
of experts, Emil T. Sumagaysay-Civil Defense Officer of Tupi, South Cotabato,
Maria Ana D. Uy-Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of South Cotabato province,
Karen D. Lagaña- Universal Health Care Implementer-Antipas Cotabato Province
and Kristine Angeli Gimongala- Freelance Consultant.

Latonio said the
training helped them understand the importance as well as the roles and
functions of Nutrition during emergencies and/or disasters.

As output,
representatives of each LGU drafted a Preparedness, Response and Recovery Plan
on Nutrition in Emergencies. This plan
will be referred to the LGUs Nutrition Committee for finalization.

Aside from
nutrition action officers, the trainees included LGUs disaster risk reduction
management officers and nutrition committee members.

Across the
globe, the World Health Organizations (WHO) said hunger and malnutrition are
rampant among refugees and displaced populations, representing currently around
40 million people worldwide, many of whom – infants, children, adolescents,
adults and older people – suffer from one or more of the multiple forms of
malnutrition.

It also said
that besides wasting, deficiencies of iodine, vitamin A and iron are common in
emergency-affected populations.

In addition,
scurvy, pellagra and beriberi frequently occur in populations entirely
dependent on food aid.

The levels of
risk of malnutrition in emergencies depend on factors such as the degree of
civil security, food availability and accessibility, access to health services,
and adequacy of assistance delivery.

In Marawi
City, the Department of Health and National Nutrition Council are in the
forefront in ensuring infants are fed with mothers’ milk and not with formula milk
to increase children’s immunity in a surrounding highly vulnerable to water and
air borne diseases. (Edwin O. Fernandez)