Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) continue to provide nutrition services despite the current pandemic. In an online meeting with local nutrition cluster coordinators and local information management officers on 27 May 2021, participants from the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila confirmed that the delivery of nutrition services is being sustained despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Guided by the nutrition cluster advisories issued by the National Nutrition Council (NNC), nutrition workers such as Barangay Nutrition Scholars and nutritionist-dietitians, and other service providers work together to reach out to pregnant and lactating mothers, infants and young children especially the malnourished, and their families.

Activities being done to support infant and young child feeding include online and face-to-face breastfeeding counseling of pregnant and lactating mothers, lactation massage, breastmilk donation, and promotion of proper complementary feeding for children 6-23 months old, among others.

Micronutrient supplements are provided to infants, children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and women of reproductive age.  Some LGUs also provide multivitamins to senior citizens, adults, and frontline workers.

Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are provided with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) like a peanut butter paste rich in vitamins, protein, and energy. Children with SAM and have medical complications are referred to the hospital for appropriate management. They are regularly monitored and followed-up to check their improvement or progress of rehabilitation.  

LGUs also provide food assistance such as distribution of food packs to families; providing hot meals to COVID-19 patients, pregnant and lactating women, and children; and giving complementary foods to children 6-23 months old.

Cash assistance is also given to poor families and those with malnourished children to help them buy food and other basic needs. Access to fresh and nutritious foods is ensured through mobile or community markets. 

"Now more than ever, we need to ensure that PPAN-based programs are in place, kasi malaki ang pangangailangan ng ating mga communities because of the added burden that they are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic... bringing food on the family table is a burden considering that our socio-economic situation is negatively affected, many lost their jobs, and there is disruption in the delivery of services. Mas kailangan natin gawin ang ating dati nang ginagawa, we just have to modify our strategies in doing things para mas maging appropriate sa current situation," said NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo who is also the Chair of the NCR Regional Nutrition Cluster. 

The PPAN or the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition is the country’s framework in improving the nutrition situation. Despite the challenges and difficulties being experienced by the LGUs during this pandemic, they continue to provide nutrition and nutrition-related interventions anchored on the PPAN to protect the nutritional well-being of pregnant and lactating women, children under-five years old, school children, older persons and those with disabilities, and their families. 

Good nutrition is necessary in building resilience against COVID-19. The continuity of delivery of health, nutrition, and related services especially during these trying times is essential.  The LGUs are urged to do their best to prevent hunger and malnutrition amid COVID-19.

Written by NOIII Emerenciana L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo.