27 April 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – The first Regional Nutrition Cluster teleconference was held on 24 April 2020, 1:00 – 5:00 PM, with nine (9) core members attending the meeting organized and facilitated by National Nutrition Council X headed by NPC Gladys Mae S. Fernandez. Regional offices of DOH, DA, DILG, DOST, DSWD, DTI, BFAR, PIA and DAR were represented by Technical Working Group members.
The virtual meeting was primarily conducted to ensure that regional plans, programs and activities for nutrition are still in place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to address the concerns raised by the local government units. Prior to the main business of the meeting, NPC Fernandez informed the body that only the core members of the Regional Nutrition Cluster were invited. She further reiterated the role of the nutrition cluster and the need to convene the meeting to gather updates, address concerns and coordinate activities accordingly.
The meeting focused on the following agenda: 1) Nutrition Advisories: a) Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, s.2020 and b) Executive Order 51; 2) Nutrition Actions of LGUs and Regional Nutrition Cluster member agencies in response to COVID-19 pandemic, including the challenges and actions taken; 3) Regional Nutrition Cluster Plan (next steps) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle presented Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, s.2020 on the Nutritional Guidelines on LGU Actions Relative to COVID-19. The said advisory was disseminated to LGUs as guide in steering their nutrition efforts.
ECCD-First 1000 Days Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie C. Barrio discussed EO 51 including its salient features, examples of EO 51 violations, violation focus during emergencies and some examples of Milk Code violations. She emphasized that milk donations, whether in an emergency setting or not, is strictly prohibited.
NO III Talle gave a run through of the nutrition actions of LGUs in Region 10, based on the report generated regularly using the 4Ws (Who, What, When, Where) tool. Most LGUs focused on distributing food packs, routine micronutrient supplementation, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and nutrition promotion, out-patient therapeutic care of severely/moderately acute malnourished children, vegetable seed distribution, establishment of Community Kitchens, Mobile Markets, and targeted supplementary feeding. Cagayan de Oro City has established a breastfeeding hotline, which was replicated by NNC X in partnership with DOH’s Nutritionist-Dietitians assigned in Misamis Oriental. Gaps, challenges and actions taken were also presented to the body.
The core members presented one by one their agency 4Ws report of nutrition and food-related responses. These were noted by the secretariat for inclusion in the regional 4Ws report. Agencies are still requested to submit an accomplished copy of the reporting template to the secretariat for proper documentation.
To ensure that the nutritional status of the affected populace will not deteriorate or worsen due to the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, NPC Fernandez presented the initial plans/actions of the cluster. Although most of the initial programs/projects/activities (PPAs) identified are under the Department of Health, the core group members are set to identify nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive PPAs under their own agencies as additional input to the plan for a holistic and multi-sectoral method in approaching the conclusion of COVID-19. She also informed the members to prioritize the communities or households with malnourished children in identifying recipients of their nutrition and food-related responses.
Wrapping up the discussions, queries and meeting agreements, NPC Fernandez thanked the group for a successful virtual meeting and for the active participation and commitment of member agencies of the Regional Nutrition Cluster.
Even in times of health emergencies, the regional workforce is still on the go towards One Region in Nutrition for all Northern Mindanaoans. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)
