UNICEF through the Samaritans Purse has turned over anthropometric tools to the local government unit of Maasin City on April 21, 2022.

The event was attended by Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado. The anthropometric tools are intended to be used by Maasin City Health Offices and their respective Barangay Health Stations.

Dr. Jocelyn Anas-Orito, City Health Officer 1 of CHO II; Dr. Francilisa Tan, City Nutrition Action Officer; Ms. Michelle Siega, Nutrition Program Coordinator; and staff of the three City Health Offices and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) received the said equipment together with other nutrition supplies.

Said supplies and equipment will be used by the BNSs in the case finding of malnourished children particularly those with moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MAM/SAM) and likewise those that are moderately and severely stunted.

Samaritans Purse Team oriented and demonstrated to the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) how to use properly said equipment. New mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes were also given.

Demonstration on the use of the MUAC tapes for young children and pregnant mothers were also done.

All the supplies and equipment were part of the assistance of UNICEF through Samaritan’s Purse as response to the TS Odette devastated LGUs in Southern Leyte, made possible through the coordination of the National Nutrition Council Region 8 and its Regional Nutrition Cluster.

The entire package is part of the Comprehensive Regional Nutrition Cluster Response Plan submitted by NNC 8 to UNICEF, Department of Health, and National Nutrition Council, all in central office.

Meantime, various capability building activities were also part of the nutrition cluster response package such as Family MUAC, PIMAM Crash Course and of latest was the training on Out-patient Therapeutic Care (OTC) for RHUs and BHS and In-patient Therapeutic Care (ITC) for referral hospitals.

With these trainings, health facilities are expected to manage and treat MAM and SAM at various levels. #IMO-DARM