Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up." – Oliver Wendell Holmes
As the entire Central Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic, NNC-Region III anticipated the wide range of outcomes to the nutritional status of the vulnerable groups such as infants, preschool children, pregnant and lactating women, older persons and persons with disabilities due to disruption in routine health, decreased accessibility to food and limited or lack of income, among others.
On 29 May 2020, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Luzon gathered the members of the Central Luzon Association of Nutrition Action Officers (CLANAO) and Nutrition Program Coordinators for Health in a virtual meeting in order to generate reports about the current nutrition and health situation from the gound (local) levels.
The meeting was presided by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo, with the presence of Ms. Margarita S. Natividad, Nutritionist-Dietitian of DOH CLCHD, who provided information about the gaps and commodities available at the DOH Central Luzon CHD. The NNC-Region III Secretariat was also present to document the proceedings.
Discussion during the meeting focused on the 1) Gaps and needs of supplies; 2) Regional Nutrition Cluster initiatives and response; 3) Good practices; and 4) Accomplishment of the CLANAO members.
The meeting was very productive and participative as attendees reported the challenges faced by individuals and communities in their respective LGUs, such as lost of livelihood, hunger due to lack of food or insufficient money to buy food. Notable was that most of the households with undernourished under-five children, pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities and older persons were prioritized by the LGUs in the provision of relief goods and commodities during the quarantine period.
Many of the LGUs became innovative and very creative in the provision of family food packs. The usual rice, noodles and canned goods food packs were enhanced with the inclusion of nutri-bun, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, fresh fish, chicken among others. Still many others were engaged in the establishment of Nutri-Wheel (mobile markets) and Community Kitchen to make basic food commodities like rice, eggs, vegetables, pork, chicken and fish available and those produced by local farmers more accessible to the families.
The roles of the NAOs have been very crucial in helping their LGUs through the local nutrition committees in improving the food packs. Dry food rations including ready-to-use-supplementary food (RUSF) were also given to undernourished under-five children and nutritionally at-risk pregnant women.
To counter milk donations and uphold the Milk Code or EO 51, most of the NAOs promoted the First 1000 days of life by monitoring all pregnant women, giving nutrition and basic services, providing nutripacks and counselling on breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.
Indeed, the CLANAO’s actions during this COVID-19 pandemic are motivating and inpiring. Your actions and commitments will go a long way if you document these innovations and initiatives using the outline of the documentation of good practices through this link https://www.nnc.gov.ph/login/upload-files-from-phoca-download. Start creating ripples so others may learn from the sharing of your experiences.
Author: NO II Rose Anne M. Cuyco and NPC Ana Maria B. Rosaldo
