The local government of San Fernando, Romblon rolled-out its Nutrition in Emergencies Training last 14 - 16 October 2019 at Rances Resort in Magdiwang, Romblon. The training was attended by all twelve (12) Barangay Nutrition Scholars of San Fernando, Barangay Chairpersons, representatives from Provincial Nutrition Office, members of Municipal Nutrition Committee and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The training was facilitated by the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Marites Mortel and NO III Edzell M. Arcinue and NO I Bianca Louise Veronica M. Estrella of National Nutrition Council – MiMaRoPa.
Mr. Harley Rolex of MDRRMO presented the emergency management system of the Municipality of San Fernando in preparedness and response to emergencies. He also presented the hazards and risks of the municipality of San Fernando. This is followed by the module on basic principles on how disasters and emergencies affect the nutritional status of individuals by Nutrition Officer III Edzell Arcinue. Furthermore, Nutrition Officer I Bianca Estrella discussed ways to conduct nutritional assessment and its importance while DNPC Merely Bayang explained the significance of infant and young child feeding emphasizing the exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding during emergencies. NO III Arcinue discussed the necessary micronutrient supplementation during disasters and emergencies.
The following day, chosen groups presented the assigned skit about the simple rapid assessment of infant and young child feeding practices in which the scenarios include exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding and non-breastfeeding practices of mothers. Right after, the session was continued with the topic on supplementary feeding by NO III Arcinue followed by Nutritionist-Dietitian II Nicole Tansingco about the nutrition interventions to be provided for identified cases of acute malnutrition in emergency affected area. The last session was planning for nutrition and emergency preparedness response plan facilitated by NO III Arcinue. Each barangay and the MNC in partnership with MDRRMO were tasked to draft an NiEm Preparedness and Response Plan based on the inputs they gained from each session. Three barangays were randomly chosen to present their plan.
On the last day of training, the local chief executive of San Fernando, Hon. Mayor Salem Tansingco, paid a visit and observe the presentation of NiEm Plan formulated by the MDRRMO and by the MNC. The plan was presented by MNAO Mortel. Part of their preparedness plan includes symposium and dissemination of IEC materials about nutrition in emergencies in every barangay, procurement of medical supplies, medicines and relief goods and volunteer insurance to protect its volunteers. They also plan to provide psychosocial services for evacuees, communities and local health staff as part of their reconstruction and recovery plan to resolve traumatic experience the community may encounter.
Furthermore, during the closing program, Mayor Tansingco extended his gratitude to the participants and facilitators for conducting the NiEm training and he also shared his support to the nutrition advocacies presented by the municipal nutrition committee. In his message, he mentioned that supplementary feeding alone would not solve malnutrition instead he wanted to strengthen the backyard and community gardening for food security of his constituents and eventually improve the nutrition situation of their community.
NiEm Preparedness and Response plan is created in order to prevent serious illness and death caused by malnutrition during emergencies. - BLVMEstrella
