During  the recent Taal volcano eruption, the NNC, together with the Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC), witnessed the Bayanihan spirit  among  Calabarzonians, as their Provincial Nutrition Committees (PNC)  reactivated the Nutrition Clusters (NCs)  to   prevent  the worsening of the nutritional status of the target groups.

Initially, the Calabarzon RNC, represented by the NNC and the DOH, toured the four (4) provinces affected by the disaster (especially those with evacuation centers) to meet with each Cluster, assist its reactivation, and discuss ways forward in response to the disaster.

In Batangas

In Batangas, those who shared their experiences  and  the actions taken by their local government units in the disaster response were: representatives of PNCs, City / Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, District / City Nutrition Program Coordinators, City Information Officers, and Barangay Nutrition Scholar Presidents.

Even as the members of the PNCs and most of the frontliners were  affected by the volcanic eruption, Batangas Province was still able to deliver basic health and nutrition services to their affected constituents.  The nutrition responders (consisting of Provincial / City / Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, District / City Nutrition Program Coordinators, City Information Officers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, and other health workers)  were able to perform rapid nutrition assessment and masterlisting of the target groups in the evacuation centers. These included babies (0-59 months old), pregnant women, and lactating women.

The Provincial Health Office also spearheaded a crash course on how to measure the mid-upper arm circumference for finding active cases of children with moderate and severe acute malnutrition aged 6-59 months, as well as nutritionally-at-risk pregnant and lactating women. Commodities mandated by the Philippine Integrated Management on Acute Malnutrition were given to the identified cases of nutritionally-at-risk moderate and severe acute malnutrition, such as the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food.

They also conducted medical missions to address the evacuees’ medical condition. Additionally, they distributed medicines and micronutrient supplements to ensure that the medical conditions of the evacuees were addressed, and the immune system of the vulnerable groups will not be compromised.

One may recall that during the said emergency, some of the affected Batangueños evacuated to nearby Cavite, Laguna and Quezon. The Provincial Health and Nutrition Committees of these sites wholeheartedly accepted and aided the evacuees.

In Cavite

In Cavite province, 17  cities and municipalities established 114 evacuation centers for the Batangueños. The Nutrition Cluster in Cavite was activated from Day One. In order to provide immediate services, they deployed staff to the evacuation centers. They developed a contingency plan, and conducted both a Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment and a Rapid Health Assessment.

Sanitation leaders were organized to monitor sanitation. They held several nutrition education classes to promote good nutrition, with topics on promoting exclusive breastfeeding, proper complementary feeding, and how to prepare and cook nutritious meals from the food packs given by various donors. They also distributed informative and educational materials,  reactivated the Breastfeeding Support Groups (BSGs), and invited these to orient and promote breastfeeding among non-breastfeeding mothers, which resulted in the conversion of bottle-fed babies to breastfeeding. Pasteurized breastmilk donation was practiced in some of the local government units.

In Quezon

In Quezon, evacuees were assessed, and acute malnutrition cases were identified and provided Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food. Pregnant women on their third trimester were immediately referred to lying-in facilities, while lactating women were referred to Rural Health Units with lactation stations.

The Rural Health Units also gave breastfeeding counselling to the mothers. Evacuees were also provided psychosocial services, as well as teachings on disinfecting water. Families in the evacuation centers received food packs containing three kilos (3 kg) of rice and six (6) canned goods.

In Laguna

In Laguna,  a meeting  was convened with the Nutrition Clusters for the immediate set-up of community kitchens to provide healthy meals to the evacuees. They strictly implemented Executive Order no. 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines, and conducted counselling on Infant and Young Child Feeding. They also assessed and categorized the affected population according to their age group and condition. Health and nutrition commodities were also distributed.

Bayanihan Spirit via Nutrition Clusters

The power of the Bayanihan spirit is truly the need of the times. More work can be accomplished and more  people are served. The situation also demonstrate the heroism of dedicated government workers.  This spirit will live on in NNC and to its network of nutrition workers in the region.

By: Mary Emerene P. Pingol