Caraga RNC conducts post-disaster assessment in Dinagat Islands
PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga, in close collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines, conducted a post-disaster nutrition initial needs assessment at the Province of Dinagat Islands on Day 22 after Super Typhoon Odette ravaged the area.
NOII Raphael Ochavo, together with UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Officer Pete John Biscarra and Programme Assistant Leah Tacsan. paid a courtesy visit to Dinagat Islands Health Cluster headed by the PHO II Dr. Jillian Francise Lee, together with PHO I Dr. Juan Javier Garchitorena, and PNAO Joanna Jessica Yasay.
The deployment mission of the Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC) to the Province of Dinagat Islands was to gather data through the Nutrition Initial Needs Assessment (NINA) tool to generate information regarding the nutrition situation of the province and to conduct rapid case finding of nutritionally at-risk children and pregnant women.
NINA tool is designed to provide immediate and initial assessment of the nutrition situation among the affected population particularly among the nutrition vulnerable groups, i.e. children 0-59 months, pregnant and lactating women, women of reproductive age, elderly, and persons with disabilities after onset of emergency or disaster.
Also, part of the deployment mission is to scout for storage facilities and coordinate for the delivery of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Micronutrient Powder for the target beneficiaries in the province. The RNC will continue to coordinate the implementation of nutrition and health responses of the national government agencies and international humanitarian organizations in the affected areas of Typhoon Odette. (RPOchavo, NNC-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
