Quezon City - This month marks the end of the successful e-learning course on “Nutrition in Emergencies–Information Management (NiE-IM) in Calabarzon -- as well as the beginning of higher confidence in enhancing disaster nutrition plans in the region. All the skills and knowledge learned by the 114 students who participated in the course will highly equip them and their team in addressing nutrition challenges during disasters.
Beautifully expressed in the ceremony were grateful thanks to the resource speakers and all the students (total of 53 students for Batch 1 and 61 for Batch 2) who participated the e-learning course in 12 meetings from October to December this year. After the synthesis was given to refresh the course, inspiring messages were taken into account.
Dr. Avelyn Garcia, CHO.CNAO of Lipa City warmly shared these: “Thank you to all the Resource Speakers, magagaling po silang lahat. The training on NiE-IM has 2 objectives: 1) preventing deaths and; 2) protecting people’s right to nutrition. Gusto ko rin itong naging platform sa training kasi may time tayo to go back and view yung ating mga materials. The materials are readily available at naka-store na sa amin para ma review anytime. They emphasize the importance of public to be informed para sa kahandaan during disasters and emergencies. It includes the response and recovery measures to prevent malnutrition especially among the vulnerable groups”.
Enrilito B. Bernardo Jr, City DRRMO of Antipolo City heartfully spoke these words: “Buong pasasalamat sa bumubuo ng program na ito. Positive information overload lalo na para sa amin na hindi sanay sa nutrition terminologies. During disaster response, hindi nabibigyan ng pansin ang aspeto ng nutrition. Nakita ko na masalimuot ang proseso, nguni’t maganda pag may information system. Sabi ko nga sakto, mag rereview kami ng aming LDRRM plan, lalo na para sa nutrition cluster. Usually nakatuon ang DRRM Plan sa natural hazards, at ngayon pa lang nagkakaroon ng appreciation sa biological hazards. Para po sa akin, magandang opportunity na ma review ang plan at nutrition cluster and the system and it is very timely – for collaboration with the city health and nutrition. Dapat po talaga ay buong city ang ayusin. Maguumpisa pa lang ang totoong laban. Sana ay gabayan pa rin ninyo kami.”
In the closing message, Ms. Carina Z. Santiago, the Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC CaLaBaRZon, congratulated the students for their successful participation and commitment to finish the e-learning course despite many challenges like typhoons, the COVID19 pandemic, weak internet connections and the demands of works for each respective LGU.
Ms. Santiago also extended grateful thanks to all the region’s Local Chief Executives (LCEs). She made a wish that the pandemic will be gone soon and we can meet face to face, and eventually create and reactivate the Nutrition Clusters.
In concluding, she said, “You have lots of input in this training which you can please disseminate to your respective LGUs. We hope that you will have a designated Information Management Officer to manage information at all times, and that your DRRM-H-NiE Plan will be budgeted soon. My ultimate wish is for the graduates to be ready in times of disaster and emergencies and to continue to learn new skills and intensify our capacity and capabilities during nutrition response in emergencies.”
Written by: Edward C. Paglinawan
