BAGUIO CITY, March 15 (PIA) - -Members of the Regional Nutrition Committee(RNC) approved a resolution requesting the Regional Development Council to enjoin all local government units to organize Nutrition Cluster to protect the nutritional status of the affected population from the impact of disasters.

Ma. Eileen Blanco, National Nutrition Council-Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR) Officer-In-Charge, explained that the region inevitably experiences natural and man-made disasters like typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, floods, peace and order situation.

“The occurrence of disaster is a threat to the nutritional status of children and other vulnerable groups particularly the infants, underfive children, pregnant, lactating women and older persons,” she said.

The local nutrition committee shall compose the nutrition cluster of each LGU but may include other stakeholders.

“The local nutrition cluster shall be among the sub-structures of the local disaster risk reduction and management councils,” she said.

The nutrition cluster shall be responsible in protecting the nutritional status of the affected population from the impact of disaster by adhering to the guidelines in the National Policy on Nutrition Management in Emergencies and Disasters and coordinating its efforts with the other clusters under the local disaster coordinating councils.

At the national level, the National Nutrition Governing Board has adopted the DOH National Policy on Nutrition Management in Emergencies and Disasters stipulating the guidelines in the delivery of nutrition and nutrition related services during emergencies and disasters.

Further, DOH Department Personnel Order No. 2007 – 2492 mandates the creation of the cluster system under the DOH- Health Emergency Management Staff and identified NNC as the Chair of the Nutrition Cluster. (JDP/MAWC – PIA CAR)