The Province of South Cotabato conducted Nutrition in Emergencies Training and Workshop for its Nutrition Program Implementers on December 5 and 6, 2022, at Villa Princessita, Koronadal City.  National Nutrition Council Region XII's DMO II Danah Pearl Aurel, RN, served as the training's resource person.

For context, the objective of the NiE program in disaster-stricken areas is to avert deaths and safeguard the right to nutrition, especially among the vulnerable groups covering the infant and young children, pregnant and lactating women, elderlies, and persons with disabilities. It is assumed that people who are malnourished prior to a crisis are more susceptible to illness and death after a disaster strikes. Due to inadequate food and water supplies, poor sanitation, and lack of access to health services, the people affected by these calamities are at risk of malnutrition.

Consequently, the training highlights the importance of Nutrition in Emergencies to equip the participants with the expertise needed to lead and support nutrition-related responses during emergencies and disasters. The activity is also directed to assist the nutrition action officers, nutrition program coordinators, and disaster risk reduction management personnel in formulating the nutrition in emergencies plan and integrating it into the disaster risk reduction management-Health Plan and DRRM Plan. Thus, during the final workshop, Nutrition Action Officers from nine (9) local government units in attendance presented their draft DRMM-H-NiE plan.

The workshop was attended by 23 personnel from the nutrition, health, and disaster risk management offices of the local governments of Koronadal City, Lake Sebu, T’boli, Norala, Surallah, Tampakan, St. Nino, Tantangan and Banga.(FMM/AMF/RML)