Butuan City- On 7-10 January 2022, the Nutrition Cluster together with the UNICEF staff conducted a post post-disaster nutrition initial needs assessment to most affected municipalities when Typhoon Odette entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 16 December 2021.
NNC Caraga PNFP Mariella Rayco together with UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Officer Amina Lim, UNICEF Philippines WASH Officer Rasul Abdullah and Surigao del Norte DNPC Marissa Solloso, as members of the Nutrition Cluster Team for Siargao, talked to the MNAOs, Midwifes, MHOs and MSWDOs of the respective municipalities about the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.
Observed in all municipalities are the badly damaged health and nutrition facilities. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) services, facilities and supplies such as breastfeeding area, IYCF support group, human milk bank, IYCF counselling cards, breastfeeding flipcharts, EO 51 posters and breastfeeding kits are no longer functional and cannot be used for its purpose.
Also damaged and or running out stocks are the nutrition-related commodities (vitamin A, MNP, IFA, zinc drops, oresol) stored in the respective RHUs. Commodities that are helpful in the management of acute malnutrition like the RUTF, RUSF, ReSoMal, and high energy biscuits are also out of stocks.
Most of the nutrition anthropometric tools were also damaged and no longer functional like the MUAC tapes for children and adult, weighing scales, and Child Growth Standard (CGS) table.
As for the health services in the island, vaccinations were mostly forwarded to the Municipality of Del Carmen while the deliveries are referred to the District Hospital of Dapa and General Luna. According to the RHU personnel that we have spoken to, there is an increased needs for maintenance medicines, multivitamins, pain killers and nebulizers.
On the time of visit, mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) were present in the Municipalities of Del Carmen, Pilar, Sta. Monica, San Isidro, General Luna and Burgos.
A few illnesses identified in the area such as upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Likewise, cases for all types of wounds are noted since most of the residents were reconstructing their homes and cleaning the debris left by the typhoon. Fortunately, the cases of diarrhea were decreasing in most areas of the island.
For the water supply, most households purchase their drinking water from water refilling stations with a price at PhP 25.00 per gallon while water for washing, bathing and other things mostly sourced out from streams and rivers.
In terms of sanitation, toilet is not a problem but maintaining the cleanliness is a challenge because of limited water supply.
Relief operations are still ongoing in every town in Siargao Islands. The communities have received food assistance, safe drinking water, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, cooking utensils, clothing and temporary shelters from different public and private organizations. # MPRayco
