Bais City, Negros Oriental – With the prediction that Typhoon Odette will hit parts of the Visayas including Bais City in Negros Oriental on 16 December 2021, the Bais City Incident Command System (ICS) was activated, and formed the response team, including the City Nutrition Cluster.
The Local Government Unit of Bais City, as a mitigating step towards Disaster Risk Reduction, has developed an Incident Command System (ICS) that aims to provide an organized and effective response during emergencies and disasters. It is composed of LGU department heads with their planning officers, members of the CDRRMO and the City Administrator. City Health Officer and City Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Corazon Cablao were designated as the incident commander.
The nutrition cluster was deployed and pre-positioned health packs per evacuation sites and allocated mother-baby-friendly spaces. Within 24 hours after the disaster hit, City Nutrition Program Coordinator Mr. Ramon Anton Valencia prepared the NINA tool which provides data on the immediate and initial assessment of the nutrition situation among the affected vulnerable population. The accomplished NINA tool was reported during cluster meetings and submitted to the NNC regional office.
Rapid Nutrition Assessment was conducted by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars on the third day through measurement of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference. Nutrition interventions were also provided which include Vitamin A supplementation for children 6-59 months old, EO 51 (Milk Code) monitoring, and IYCF-E in evacuation centers.
As part of the recovery efforts, the City Nutrition Cluster distributed Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement – Small Quantity (LNS-SQ) to 6-59 months old children, micronutrient powder, and re-activated the PIMAM facility upon the availability of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food.
The Philippines is vulnerable to emergencies and disasters because of its location and archipelagic nature. An average of 20 Tropical Cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) every year. Hence, it is imperative that nutrition clusters are organized and functional to prepare for these eventualities. // IMO NegOr Lyneth Anne A. Amahit, RND
