Roxas, Palawan Province – The Provincial Nutrition Office of Palawan headed by Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Rachel Paladan and the Nutrition Team of Municipality of Roxas headed by Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Beberlita Dulay  partnered with the Philippine Red Cross to provide nutrition-related services in the municipality on 7-11 March 2022 as part of response to Typhoon Odette.

The 5-day provision of nutrition services included feeding of children 6-59 months, moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) active case finding, counseling of pregnant and lactating women, nutrition education classes, provision of micronutrient powder (MNP), and demonstration of proper hand-washing technique. These activities were conducted to address the possible increase in the malnutrition cases in children due to the Typhoon Odette last December 2021.

Brgy. New Barbacan, Brgy. I, Brgy. IV, Brgy. Caramay, and Brgy. Magara were the barangays targeted for the provision of the nutrition services. These barangays have high malnutrition prevalence rate (MPR) especially Brgy. I which ranked number one with the highest MPR in the weight-for-height index in Roxas in 2021.

Around 530 children aged 6-59 months old were given supplementary feeding for a day and micronutrient powder (MNP). Mothers of children with MAM/SAM cases were counseled after the active case finding. The nutrition education class focused on meal planning and backyard gardening which was based on the modules of DOST PINOY. Handwashing technique was also included to the program to prevent diarrhea cases.

Continuing partnership of the Provincial and Municipal Nutrition Team with NGOs and private agencies is to be expected to further widen the coverage of the implementation of nutrition services to the highly affected areas of the typhoon.

Written by: IMO Xylene Ann B. Notario