Cebu City – As part of the ST Yolanda nutrition rehabilitation efforts, NNC 7 and AmeriCares distributed weighing scales, height boards and infantometers to the fifteen (15) municipalities in Cebu Province that was badly affected by the said storm.

With the help of AmeriCares, a total of two hundred fifteen (215) height boards, two hundred eight (208) weighing scales and two hundred sixty nine (269) infantometers were handed out to the different barangays in the fifteen (15) municipalities. These tools would be used by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and the local nutrition personnel to monitor the nutritional status of the children within these respective barangays.

The distribution of height and weight measuring tools led by NPC Dr. Parolita A. Mission started on 23 September 2014 for the City of Bogo and municipalities of Tabogon, Borbon and Sogod. Borbon Mayor Bernard A. Sepulvida who personally received the tools together with some Barangay Captains and BNSs expressed his appreciation to NNC and AmeriCares. He vowed his support for the implementation of the nutrition program in his town and provide for the needs of the BNSs. The same set of measuring instruments was distributed on 24 and 25 September 2014 for Tabuelan, San Remegio, Medillen and Daan Bantayan; and Madridejos, Santa Fe and Bantayan, respectively. Mr. Paul Tagaran and Engr. Donald Lobingco of AmeriCares witnessed the turn-over in Bogo City and San Remegio. The last batch of distribution will be on 02 October 2014 for the municipalities of Poro, Tudela, San Francisco, and Pilar, Camotes.

AmeriCares also provided funding support for the 15 batches of BNS training in 15 Yolanda-affected municipalities.

AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the United States and around the world. It organizes emergency response teams to deliver urgently needed aid to survivors of disasters. Such aid includes medicines, medical supplies, water or water purification treatments and other critically needed resources.

NNC 7 would like to thank Mr. Riaz Khalil and Mr. Bret McEvoy and to AmeriCares for providing the height boards, weighing scales and infantometers and the capacity building fund for BNSs. //DFB