TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, July 1 (PIA) - - To ensure nutritional status of vulnerable population during calamities, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 2 has established nutrition cluster in emergencies to manage nutrition related interventions.

Rhodora G. Maestre, nutrition program coordinator, said nutrition cluster is a group of government, non-government and international humanitarian agencies that take lead in nutrition management during emergencies and disasters.

The cluster members are dealt to ensure nutritional status of the vulnerable groups such as infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, older persons, and persons with disabilities.

Maestre explained that the team will specifically conduct rapid assessment in affected areas per sector, ensure timely and appropriate delivery of quality package of nutrition interventions and ensure that the foods provided and distributed are nutritionally adequate for the vulnerable group.

“We will conduct trainings and capacity building activities to the clusters to let them internalize their roles and functions. The cluster also provide nutrition counseling to affected population and promote coordination mechanism with various concerned agencies,” Maestre stated.

She said the nutrition clusters must also be institutionalized in the Local Government Units (LGUs) ready for any disaster eventuality in their areas of responsibility.

"In the nutrition governing board resolution, members of the local nutrition cluster representatives include health office, social welfare, agriculture, NGOs, CSOs, and other concerned agencies," she added.

On her part, Carol Jean Domingo, nutritionist of the Department of Health (DOH), said the cluster team should also check not only the nutritional value of the food and the donations to be distributed to the affected families.(OTB-PIA2/Cagayan)