The Office of the Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) had released NNC Memorandum 2020-010 to provide interim guidelines in the conduct of OPT Plus, nutrition screening and growth monitoring and promotion activities in the context of COVID-19 and other related issues. The guidelines are in line with the provisions of DOH-Department Circular 2020-0167 Continues Provision of Essential Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic and DOH-Department Memorandum 2020-0237 Interim Guidelines for the Delivery of Nutrition Services in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic under Growth and Development Monitoring and Promotion. The memorandum was issued for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of the conduct of growth monitoring and promotion activities while observing the proper health protocols provided by the Department of Health (DOH).
As stated in the DOH-Department 2020-0237, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes has to be used instead of the weight and length/height measuring tools to reduce physical contact between a health care provider and the infant or child. However, if there will be insufficient supplies of MUAC tapes, the Global Nutrition Cluster cited key considerations for in-person interactions during data collection.
Important points of the said guidelines are for the members of the OPT Team to disinfect the weight and length/height measuring tools and other frequently-touch surfaces and objects. Also make sure to maintain physical safe distance between the mother/caregivers and their children, and don’t forget to wear personal protective equipment such as face mask, face shield, and gloves when taking measurements. Upon reading measurements, and it is advised to re-consider positioning of measurer such as reading from behind the individual for MUAC measurement to reduce the risk of droplet exposure.
Members of the OPT Team can also consider using this opportunity to teach the mothers/caregivers to assess the nutritional status of their children using MUAC tapes. The video on how to measure MUAC can be viewed and downloaded here:
https://www.nnc.gov.ph/covid19/im/muac
The guidelines also provide for the measurement schedule, recording and reporting of OPT Plus, nutrition screening, and growth monitoring.
To access NNC Memorandum 2020-010, you may go to: https://www.facebook.com/nnczampen/posts/3632794873470279
AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot
