National Nutrition Council – MIMAROPA Region conducted the second leg of the online Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) Provincial Association Meeting joined by participants from the province of Oriental Mindoro and Calapan City last 30 September 2020 via Google Meet.
Discussed during the meeting were breastfeeding and COVID-19 FAQs for healthcare workers, milk donation policies during emergencies, report on SAM and MAM cases per municipality and city, Regional Nutrition Committee Resolution No. 1, s. 2020, status of FBNS member contributions and funds, guidelines on Medical and Survivorship Assistance Requests and CSC Eligibility Application, submission of nutrition reports, and sharing of activities for October to December 2020.
Select BNS participants shared their actions taken in extending nutrition services to the community and experiences as frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the activities include distribution of breastmilk, vitamins, fruits, personal hygiene kits and food rations to the identified malnourished children, aid in weight monitoring, administration of food packs and vegetable packs per household, distribution of planting seeds and reusable face masks and dissemination of educational materials for enjoyment of children amidst the pandemic. Despite the current situation, no major problems were encountered because municipal and barangay officials were sympathetic in delivering nutrition services for all. In gratitude to the volunteers, NNC Secretariat will be giving away shirts as token.
The discussions also revealed that community quarantine is not a hindrance in the celebration of the 2020 Nutrition Month. Some of the activities made with observance to minimum public health safety protocols were conduct of poster making, spoken poetry and poem making contests, Pabasa sa Nutrisyon for pregnant and lactating women, demonstration of proper breastfeeding and 1-week televised of 2020 Nutrition Month at Calapan City network.
The NNC Secretariat reminded the participants that donations of infant formula or powdered milk, teat or pacifier, commercial baby food and feeding bottle are prohibited in compliance to Executive Order (EO) 51. In support to the Milk Code, the following orders are being implemented: a) DOH AO 2006-0014: National Policies on Infant and Young Children and b) DOH AO 2007-0017: Guidelines on the Acceptance and Processing of Foreign and Local Donations during Emergency and Disaster Situations focuses on prohibiting donations of any breastmilk substitutes. A deliberation regarding breastfeeding and COVID-19 FAQs by healthcare workers released by the World Health Organization was accompanied.
In assistance to the BNSs, the guidelines and requirements in application for Medical Assistance, Survivorship Assistance and CSC Eiligibility were discussed briefly. Medical Assistance Request is applicable to all active BNSs, BNSs who have ended contract within six months of last day of effectivity and must be confined in a government health facility unless therapy is only available in private healthy, BNS is in a life-threatening situation and nearest care provider is private health facility and was referred by C/MHO. Medical Assistance Request must be filed within six months of hospitalization while Survivorship Assistance Request must be filed within six months of death. For CSC Eligibility grant under PD 1569, interested BNS applicants were reminded that process will be done by the applicant. The NNC will just release an original dry-sealed list of BNS as an additional requirement for application.
Lastly, BNS and NAOs were informed on the adaption of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Resolution No. 1, s. 2020: Seeking Support from RDC MIMAROPA to Request All Local Government Units in the Region to Provide Healthy and Nutritious Food Packs during Disasters, Calamities and Public Health Emergencies which was approved by the Regional Development Council (RDC) last 4 September 2020. (NKSLoyola)
Sources:
https://nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/region-iv-b-mimaropa/3895-rnc-pushes-for-healthy-food-packs
