The theme for this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month “Tamang Pamamahala’t Kahandaan, Kaalalaman at Pagtututulungan sa Sakuna at Pandemya’y Kalasag ng Bayan” calls for actions to prevent and reduce the damage caused by natural and human-induced emergencies and disasters, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Emergencies and disasters like fire, typhoons, earthquake, volcanic eruption among others, and now the COVID-19 pandemic can put the general population at risk to malnutrition. According to the World Food Programme, disasters are among the main drivers of hunger and malnutrition in the world. Pregnant and lactating mothers, infant and young children are at a greater risk of hunger and malnutrition during these difficult times. Ensuring good nutrition among these vulnerable groups will help mitigate the impact of disaster and improve their resilience.
Undernourished individuals are more vulnerable to diseases. The lack of nutrients in their body due to inadequate food intake and frequent bouts of illness weaken their immune system which increases their susceptibility to diseases, increases the severity of their illness, and can impede their recovery or may lead to early death.
The 2020 Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) on Food Security, Coping Mechanisms, and Nutrition Services Availed during COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected Areas in the Philippines including some areas in NCR, conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) revealed that unemployment, food security, food accessibility, access to health and nutrition programs for children including pregnant women are the major issues during the pandemic, and if left unsolved may also lead to the worsening of the nutrition situation in the country, putting infants and young children at a greater risk.
We need to build our nutrition resilience to be able to cope better and recover faster from the effects of COVID-19 and prevent the worsening of the nutrition situation. In its effort to promote nutrition resilience, the Regional Nutrition Committee issued RNC Resolution No. 1, s2021 “Resolution Enjoining all Local Government Units to Scale Up Nutrition Actions to Improve Nutrition Resilience in the New Normal” on June 10, 2021. The RNC urges LGUs to implement the following programs, invest on, and scale up nutrition actions to improve nutrition resilience: (1) First 1000 Days Program to reduce and prevent stunting among children; (2) Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) to treat and rehabilitate severely wasted children; (3) Food Production, Livelihood, Employment Generation Programs and other nutrition-sensitive programs to ensure food security in the household; (4) Enabling Programs to strengthen governance, capacity and institutions for effective implementation of nutrition programs including Nutrition in Emergencies. All these nutrition interventions are anchored on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which is the country’s framework for nutrition improvement.
We need to promote and protect the nutritional status of the population particularly pregnant and lactating mothers, infant and young children especially during this pandemic so that when disaster or emergency happens, they will be more resilient and able to recover faster.
Written by: NOIII Emerenciana L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
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