QUEZON CITY, 11 November - The Local Government Units (LGUs) in CaLaBaRZon clearly expressed their commitment and dedication for capacity building and knowledge and skills development through their dynamic participation in the recent “Nutrition in Emergencies and Information Management (NiE-IM) e-Learning Course”.
The course turned out to have an almost complete attendance during the opening program with a total of 55 participants for Batch 1 (from 12 LGUs) in the morning session and 49 participants for Batch 2 (from another 12 LGUs) in the afternoon session. Other participating agencies are members of Regional Nutrition Cluster-CaLaBaRZon from DOH, DTI, NCIP, DOLE, IIRR, BFAR and TESDA and the DOH Human Resources for Health–Nutritionist Dietitian Deployment Program in CaLaBaRZon.
The 12-day online course via “Google Classroom” has been designed to enhance, develop and capacitate the participants from LGUs, line agencies, development partners and other responders , particularly during disasters and emergencies. It includes lectures to :
- Describe Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Cluster Approach;
- Discuss Nutrition on Emergencies Interventions and other cross-cutting concerns on NIE;
- Illustrate the DRRM-H-NIE and NPM planning cycles;
- Develop a draft DRRM-H-NIE Plan for the LGU; and
- Explain Information Management Tools.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Carina Santiago, NNC CaLaBaRZon Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC), conveyed her utmost thanks to all the participants for their passion in learning new knowledge and approaches in implementing nutrition programs during disasters and emergencies. That the participants consider the NiE-IM training as an opportunity for capacity building and not as a burden, was also deeply acknowledged.
Ms. Santiago looks forward to the participants’ completion of the course so they can translate their learning into action in their specific areas. She expressed hopes that everyone will eventually be able to envision a safe, secured, and healthy CaLaBaRZon Region. She concluded with “Together we can make a difference may it be in normal times, but most especially during disasters and emergencies.”
The diligent participants who are now on their 6th day of the 12 day course have just submitted their assignments, workshop output and major learnings on the topic modules. They have also received important announcements and updates with regards to their e-learning track.
Students were very enthusiastic during the “Zoom” open forum, a virtual interaction and meet-up of students and training team with the resource speakers. Elucidated in the open forum were questions and clarifications on the Executive Order 51 or “National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplement and Other Related Products” during emergencies because of previous experiences during the Taal Eruption, CoVID19 response and series of Typhoon Disaster Response.
Indeed, Nutrition in Emergencies–Information Management (NiE-IM) e-learning course is one of the newest and most effective approaches that equip and capacitate our responders -- be in the regional or local level units.
By: Edward C. Paglinawan
