Disaster response to include nutrition management

By Rebecca S. Cadavos

Tuesday 19th of June 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -- The Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) will be adopting nutrition management during emergency and disaster response.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) of the PNC is ready to adopt the National Policy in Nutrition Management in Emergencies and Disasters as mandated in National Nutrition Council Board Resolution 2, series of 2009.

Under the policy, the nutrition council requires the delivery of quality nutrition and other health-related services that could be facilitated in times of emergencies and disasters, said Dr. Noel Lumen, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, in a meeting held recently with the PNC-TWG members at Supercha Restaurant.

Lumen explained that disasters disrupt the lives of people and may affect their health and nutritional status.

Activities for the nutrition disaster team during emergencies and disasters include supplemental feeding, weighing, vitamin A supplementation, among other health care services that can be served in times of emergencies and disasters, said Lumen.

He said that most affected during emergencies and disasters are the vulnerable groups like the infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, people with disabilities and those people living with weakening conditions.

Meanwhile, Provincial Nutritionist Nilda Rich said, “Those affected by these calamities if not acted upon, are at risk of a deterioration in the nutritional status and likewise threatens the gains achieved in improving the nutritional situation of the country which could prevent in reaching the nutrition-related targets of Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” quoting the policy under the National Nutrition Council Board Resolution No. 2.

The Department of Health will chair the Nutrition Cluster created by the National Disaster Coordinating Council. It will formulate the appropriate guidelines, manual of operations and other user-friendly materials in order to implement the said policy. (EOT/RSC-PIA8 Southern Leyte)