According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people are at higher risk of undernutrition during emergencies. Undernourished children who are either underweight (kulang sa timbang), stunted (bansot), or wasted or thin (payat) are more vulnerable to infection and death during crisis.
The effects of the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 are now being felt by the people in Luzon especially the poor due to the limited access to food, health care, and other basic necessities.
Adhering to the Nutrition Cluster Advisory No.01 s2020 issued by the National Nutrition Council, the Muntinlupa City Nutrition Committee (CNC) headed by Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi prioritized families with undernourished children below five (5) years old in the distribution of food packs in all nine (9) barangays of the city.
The preparation of the food packs was made possible through the coordinative effort of the Social Services Department headed by Ms. Analyn Mercado and City Health Office led by Acting City Health Officer Dr. Maria Teresa Tuliao and City Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Magdalena Meana.
The food pack contains essential food items such as 5 kilos of rice, 5 canned sausages, 2 packs miki, ¼ kilo pancit canton, 1 bottle (350 ml) each of cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar and fish sauce. It also includes nutri-gro wafer for the undernourished children for additional calories.
Inserted in each food pack is a note with the Tagalog biblical verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says “Wala pang pagsubok na dumating sa inyo na hindi nararanasan ng ibang tao. Tapat ang Diyos, at hindi niya ipapahintulot na kayo’y subukin nang higit sa inyong makakaya. Sa halip, pagdating ng pagsubok, bibigyan niya kayo ng lakas upang makayanan ito at ng paraan upang malampasan ito.” (No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.) The CNC hopes that this COVID-19 crisis will also become a time for reflection and spiritual upliftment of the whole family. It can then be said that the food pack provides not only food for the body but for the soul as well, as it also targets spiritual healing.
Food packs are distributed house-to-house by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine guidelines. The BNSs and BHWs involved in the distribution of food packs wear surgical mask and gloves for protection. They also practiced physical distancing during the distribution.
Children must be prioritized for food assistance and other services in this time of crisis to protect them from undernutrition and protect their survival. The National Nutrition Council advises local government units to give top priority to households and people with special needs: infants, children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, older persons, disabled persons, indigenous peoples and those with debilitating conditions (http://www.nnc.gov.ph/index.php/component/phocadownload/file/2056-nutrition-cluster-advisory-no-1-series-of-2020.html). (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
Reference: Documentation Report prepared by Ms. Maria Ana C. Ordenes (Nutritionist-Dietitian III, Muntinlupa City)
