26 October 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – Select Region 10 local government units completed the 12-day pilot run of eLearning Course on Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) – Information Management (IM). The training, which incorporated blended learning strategy (online and offline sessions) started in 8 September and ended in 21 October 2020. This activity was co-facilitated by National Nutrition Council Central Office and Regional Office X.

The training was held every Tuesday and Thursday, with a mix of offline sessions composed of pre-recorded videos and the live open forum sessions to cater questions and clarifications for the modules discussed. Google Classroom was used for uploading the modules, instructions and submission of outputs and assignments, while Zoom was used for live sessions.

Training facilitators were from the NNC Central Office, Department of Health, UNICEF Philippines, UN World Food Programme and University of the Philippines Los Baños.

A total of 28 LGU participants were able to finish the course out of 48 enrollees. The LGU graduates were from Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental Provinces; Iligan and Valencia Cities; Bacolod, Lanao del Norte; and Maramag, Bukidnon. LGU teams were composed of Health Officers, Social Welfare and Development Officers, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMO), Nutrition Action Officers (NAO) and nutrition staff. Accompanying the LGU participants in the training were non-government organization representatives and technical staff from NNC Central and Region X offices.

Those 28 graduates satisfied at least 70% attendance rate, requirements and major workshop outputs such as the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM)-Health (H)-NiE Plan and case study.

Meanwhile, participants who were not able to finish the course within the given time were granted until 6 November 2020 to comply with absences and major workshop outputs.

During the Closing Program, two of the students, Ms. Marites A. Gomez, District Nutrition Program Coordinator of Misamis Oriental and Ms. Salsi R. Dizon, Administrative Aide IV of the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Valencia City gave their insights and impressions on the training. DNPC Gomez expressed that they are fortunate to be trained by the best facilitators.

“This eLearning Course is both challenging and fulfilling. It is such a tall order given the four (4) thematic areas of DRRM. Thus, there should be collaborative efforts of the local nutrition committees,” DNPC Gomez said. She also acknowledged the comments of the facilitators on prioritizing the welfare of the human resource for NiE.

Meanwhile, Ms. Dizon also shared her initial thoughts of the training given the demands and tasks to be done on the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program. “I’m glad that this virtual training was very comprehensive. This training enabled us to show our team work and time management skills.” She said that preparing the DRRM-H-NiE plan and case study was the most unforgettable training experience. The team members were under quarantine but still explored all means of communication to finish and submit the assignments on time.

Certificates of completion and participation for the students, and certificates of appreciation for the facilitators were awarded virtually.

The Provincial DRRMO of Misamis Occidental, Mr. Mariano P. Trompeta, Jr. in his special message expressed his support to the NiE program and acknowledged the importance of comprehensive DRRM-H-NiE plan to respond effectively, especially in this time of pandemic. Read more about his support here.

To close the training, NPC Gladys Mae S. Fernandez of NNC X congratulated all the training participants for completing the training. “Nutrition clusters must be organized in the locality. To build resiliency during this pandemic we have to strengthen the Nutrition in Emergencies, and ensure that nutrition services package are included and implemented along the DRRM thematic areas,” NPC Fernandez said.

Lastly, Dr. Gloria J. Balboa, Director IV of DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) gave her closing message as well via prerecorded video. “The DOH is committed to work with the national and local nutrition clusters to prepare and operationalize a more realistic DRRM-H-NiE.” Dir. Balboa reiterated DOH-HEMB’s pursuit in capacitating health and nutrition workers to guarantee uninterrupted health and nutrition service delivery during emergencies and disasters.

The participants are set to formulate and submit re-entry plans relative to the training, while NNC X will prepare for post-training activities such as distribution of training certificates, materials and supplies. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)