Siargao Island – This February 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) though the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has already distributed Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to all the Rural Health Units in the typhoon Odette hit Siargao Islands.

Information Management Officer del Pilar, together with the DOH Caraga deployed Nutritionists, Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) simultaneously re-assessed identified cases of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in the municipalities of Dapa, General Luna, Socorro and Burgos. Since February 12 up to date, they have been able to enroll a total of 10 cases of MAM and SAM in Out-patient Therapeutic Care.

The MNAOs, BNSs and HRH Nurses assigned to the area and the mother of the child identified with MAM/SAM were oriented on the simplified protocol for managing Acute Malnutrition and proper utilization of the RUTF. After the orientation to health care providers and nutritional assessments using Mid-upper Arm Circumference, all the identified children started their first RUTF ration for that day.

As a team, the MNAOs, BNSs and HRH nurses will work collaboratively in monitoring the nutritional status of the kids. Weight and MUAC monitoring will be done weekly for SAM cases and every 2 weeks for MAM cases subsequently.
In the absence of food specially, during disasters, Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food has proven to be an effective treatment for Acute Malnutrition for children 6-59 months old.

Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food was purchased by UNICEF and was given to DOH Regional Office Caraga for allocation to the different provinces and municipalities in the region.#APDPilar