The National Nutrition Council (NNC), along with the Department of Health (DOH), spearheaded the training funded by Plan International Inc. on Nutrition in Emergencies and Information Management for Plan International Areas in Eastern Visayas on March 10-13, 2020 at Summit Hotel, Marasbaras, Tacloban City. The training aimed to capacitate members of the local nutrition cluster in formulating a Disaster Risk Reduction Management on Health- Nutrition in Emergencies (DRRM-H-NiE) plan, and implementing, monitoring and evaluating nutrition in emergencies programs or projects before, during, and after disasters.
A total of forty-seven (47) participants composed of members of the Municipal Nutrition Clusters from the three Samar provinces were brought together for the said training. Four municipalities from Samar (Daram, Gandara, Tarangnan, Sta. Margarita), five from Northern Samar (Lope de Vega, San Roque, Las Navas, Catarman, Catubig) and five from Eastern Samar (Balangkayan, Hernani, Llorente, Oras, Salcedo) were represented during the training.
Among the resource speakers present were Mr. Craig Lawrence M. Diaz, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (RDRRM-H) Manager, who gave an overview on the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Cluster Approach, and Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr., NNC8 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC), who enlightened the participants on the roles and responsibilities of the Nutrition Cluster.
Ms. Felecita Borata, Nutrition Program Manager, gave a lecture on the Nutrition in Emergencies Interventions and the Minimum Service Package. The participants were equipped with Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E), Micronutrient Supplementation, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, and Dietary Supplementation. Nutrition Officer II Ullasini Pangan also thoroughly discussed nutrition assessment which includes the proper usage of MUAC tapes, Height Board and Weighing Scales.
During the training, the participants also crafted their DRRM-H-NiE plan for 2020-2022. Ms. Ullasini Pangan demonstrated how to integrate NiE to their local government units DRRM-H Plan and provided templates for the plan formulation. Moreover, the participants were equipped with the six (6) Information Management tools which are Data Repository, Capacity Map, 4Ws, NINA Tool, NC Monitoring Tool, and Gap Analysis.
On the final day of training, the participants underwent a return demonstration and simulation exercise of nutrition cluster response. The participants were able to perform and apply what they learned and shared feedback on the dos and don’ts during the nutrition cluster response. NOII Ullasini Pangan urged the participants to organize their respective local nutrition clusters and to ensure the functionality of their clusters. #NO1DAFLendero
