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- Category: Region Caraga
January 07, 2022 | Province of Dinagat Islands – Dinagat Islands Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Ms. Joanna Jessica A. Yasay, RND provided a quick briefer to the members of the Regional Nutrition Cluster on the current situation of the municipalities and discussed the geographical makeup of the province. Dinagat Islands are a group of islands constituting a province in Caraga Region with 7 municipalities and has 100 barangays. The province can be reached via 1-2 hrs. sea travel on either fast craft or RORO vessels commonly from Surigao City. Due to its geographical location, quick response for disasters, such as Typhoon Odette, is challenging since the increasing cases of COVID-19 adds to the multiple concerns of the province.
According to PNAO Yasay, the municipalities of San Jose (capital town), Cagdianao and Basilisa are reportedly the most affected areas and has numerous evacuation centers. As of January 06, 2022, according to the Health Situation Update of the Health Emergency Management Staff of Dinagat Islands, an estimate number of affected families reached 27,399. The aforementioned municipalities have island barangays that makes relief operations, nutrition and health response difficult.
Read more: Typhoon Odette Ravages Dinagat Islands Municipalities
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- Category: Region Caraga
January 07, 2022 | Province of Dinagat Islands - The National Nutrition Council Caraga Region, in close collaboration with UNICEF Philippines, conducts post-disaster nutrition initial needs assessment at the Province of Dinagat Islands on Day 22 after the Typhoon Odette ravaged the area.
NOII Raphael Ochavo, together with UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Officer Mr. Pete John Biscarra and Programme Assistant Ms. Leah Tacsan paid a courtesy visit to Dinagat Islands Health Cluster headed by the PHO II Dr. Jillian Francise Lee together with PHO I Dr. Juan Javier Garchitorena, and PNAO Ms. Joanna Jessica Yasay.
The deployment mission of the Regional Nutrition Cluster to the Province of Dinagat Islands is to gather data through Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment (NINA) tool to generate information regarding the nutrition situation of the province and to conduct rapid case finding of nutritionally at-risk children and pregnant women.
Read more: Caraga Regional Nutrition Cluster Post-Disaster Assessment in Dinagat Islands
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- Category: Region Caraga
Surigao City- Early morning on 6 January 2022, three (3) teams of the Nutrition Cluster readied for deployment to typhoon Odette ravaged areas of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Islands to conduct the nutrition initial needs assessment.
Joining the team Surigao del Norte Mainland is NNC -OIC Dr. Nino Archie S. Labordo with Nutrition Officer Leah Vina P. Vargas together with the support driver from UNICEF while Siargao Islands also part of the Surigao Province shall be joined in by Nutrition Focal Point, Ms. Mariella Rayco with CNPC Marissa Sollosa and two staff from UNICEF, Mr. Rasul Abdullah and Ms. Amina Lim.
Meanwhile, the Province of Dinagat Islands Team is led by Ms. Teresita Lina Mendrano of DOH Caraga with Nutrition Officer Raphael Ochavo, PNAO Joanna Jessica Yasay, NDDP Kylie Bustamante and Mr. Pete John Biscarra of UNICEF.
With the current situation, the team will utilize the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) to assess the nutritional status of children 6-59 months old at the evacuation centers. Likewise, the nutrition initial needs assessment (NINA) usually conducted within 72 hours post emergency shall also be utilized. The said tool will be helful to determine the individuals affected by age group, identify infant and young child feeding practices and activities, presence of commodities, relief operations conducted, challenges and concerns at the evacuation areas.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Read more: Caraga Nutrition Cluster distributes IYCF in emergencies tarp
Surigao City- In order to protect, promote and support safe and adequate nutrition for infants and young children through the protections of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and advocacies, the Regional Nutrition Cluster distributed Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) in Emergencies advocacy tarp to typhoon Odette affected local government units in Surigao del Norte and the Province of Dinagat Islands during its visits and monitoring from January 6-10, 2022.
The advocacy material shared information on how breastfeeding is important during emergencies. Likewise, it emphasizes of no milk donations which are prohibited during emergencies particularly the acceptance of the infant formula milk.
IYCF counselling shall be provided to breastfeeding or lactating mothers at the evacuation centers or even at home. If breastfeeding is not possible, the following can be done, to include: (1) promote wet feeding/cross-nursing and relactation; (2) cup feeding or spoon feeding; (3) complementary feeding for 6 months onwards. DOH guidelines mentioned that only after the above have been exhausted, artificial feeding be considered intervention provided that breastmilk substitutes and milk formula must be done under the supervision of health and nutrition workers of the LGU.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Read more: Caraga Nutrition cluster starts the year with coordination meeting
Butuan City- To provide updates of the nutrition cluster coordinating activities, the team convened its third meeting today 3 January 2022 via Zoom Conferencing.
The meeting started with the nutrition situation presentation on the most typhoon Odette affected areas of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Surigao City.
The operation timbang plus (OPT+) revealed that most local government units included in the top ten with high number of wasted, stunted and underweight are from these two typhoon ravaged provinces.
Following the report are the updates from the Department of Health (DOH) augmentation of minimum service package for emergencies, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) food packed relief delivery, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, Department of Education relief operations, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) dissemination and advocacy and National Economic and Development (NEDA) recovery and rehabilitation plan.
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- Category: Region Caraga
Surigao City- In a meeting convened by the Provincial Health Office of Surigao del Norte on 6 January 2022 at the DRR Building in Surigao City, Dr. Arlene Felizarta relayed that health and nutrition related services are needed by the province to include interventions which will mitigate further malnutrition deterioration.
In response, Nutrition Cluster led by Dr. Nino Archie S. Labordo shared that the team is currently assessing the nutrition initial needs in Siargao and mainland Surigao del Norte. Dr. Labordo mentioned that nutrition response is coming but the need of data specifically the nutritional status among 5 years old and below, pregnant and lactating are necessary.
Department of Health (DOH) in close coordination with the UNICEF will be providing therapeutic food commodities good for the moderately and severely acute malnourished children. Likewise, other international organizations provided commitment for nutrition related interventions. Likewise, advocacy materials on infant and young child feeding in emergencies shall also be forwarded, relayed by Dr. Labordo.
Read more: Typhoon ravaged Surigao del Norte needs nutrition support
