Left photo: NNC staff from Central Luzon, MimaRoPa, & CaLaBaRZon with volunteer teachers of Balayan West Central School; 5th from right is NPC Ana Maria Rosaldo standing beside Team Leader NO III Edzell Arcinue and leftmost, NO I Antonette Garcia. Right photo: NO I Garcia getting the MUAC of a 2-year old  child.

The National Nutrition Council Central Luzon and NNC MiMaRoPa Region joined the Regional Nutrition Cluster of NNC CaLaBaRZon Region in providing emergency response to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption on 23-24 January 2020. Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo and Ms. Antonette D. Gail Garcia of NNC Central Luzon; Ms. Lourdes B. Bulante Orongan and Ms. Ma. Jhonnadelle Ritz H. Castillo of NNC CaLaBaRZon; and Mr. Edzell M. Arcinue of NNC MiMaRoPa visited four schools from two different municipalities which temporarily served as shelters and evacuation centers for the families displaced by the eruption of Taal volcano, which includes: 1) Balayan West Central School; 2) Balayan East Central School; 3) Madalunot Elementary School; and 4) Baclas Elementary School.

In the two days in Balayan and Calaca, Batangas, the joined team of three regions were able to conduct rapid nutrition assessment, profiling and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) assessment on children 6-59 months old and pregnant women; interview of camp managers, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) for the Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment (NINA) tool; IYCF counseling to pregnant and lactating mothers; as well as administered Vitamin A capsules to children 6-59 months old and pregnant women.

During the visit in the evacuation centers, it was noted that there were still evacuation centers accepting infant formula and powdered milk as donations, which on the same day were also confiscated and surrendered by the team to the Municipal Health Unit for proper storage and/or appropriate disposal by BHWs & BNSs. Volunteer teachers and camp supervisors who accepted said milk donations were briefed and informed regarding Executive Order (EO) 51 “National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplement and Other Related Products,” also known as “Milk Code.” EO51 prohibits the donations of breastmilk substitutes including infant formula, powdered milk and other milk; as well as feeding bottles, teats and commercial baby food and that these should not be part of general distribution of emergency food packs. This was also reiterated to the volunteers upon learning that there were numerous cases of reported diarrhea in the evacuation centers. Names of children and mothers in need of milk supply were then listed and endorsed to the assigned nurses-on-duty and Provincial Health Office for the provision of pasteurized breastmilk. The team coordinated with the Batangas Provincial Hospital on the requirements for breastmilk. The team also posted E.O. 51 posters i.e. information tarpaulin & ‘NO MILK DONATIONS.’

Data collected from the profiling and nutrition assessment and NINA during the two days were then consolidated and submitted to HEMB Manila for evaluation and appropriate action.

In light with these occurrences of milk donations in the evacuation centers, we highly encourage the general public to:

• Refrain from donating breastmilk substitute/infant milk formula in the evacuation centers;
• Report any individual/organization that violates the Milk Code to the Milk Code Philippines or write directly to the Food & Drug Administration; and
• Promote, protect, and support breastfeeding especially during calamities and emergencies, at all times.

Author:

Antonette Gail D. Garcia, NO I