Tacloban City- The National Nutrition Council 8 disseminated the regional results of the Survey on Nutrition Service Disruption and Adaptation in LGU Health Systems conducted from January to March this year to its nutrition networks on 7 June 2021 via blended approach.

Conducted by the Philippine Nutrition Cluster in coordination with the UNICEF and the National Nutrition Council of the Department of Health, the survey aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the provision and utilization of routine nutrition services through the health system.

Components included in the online survey: barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) capacity, nutrition services offered (before and during COVID-19 pandemic), nutrition services adaptation, nutrition Information, education, and communication, and food packs distributed at the local government units.

A total of 143 city and municipal nutrition action officers or 100% of the LGUs in Eastern Visayas participated in the online survey via ONA platform.

According to the survey, more than 50% of its BNSs needs training on Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE), Philippine Integrated on Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM), and Infant and Yung Child Feeding (IYCF). The said trainings for the BNSs are important advocacies to lessen and further prevent malnutrition especially during pandemic.

During the height of lockdowns in 2020, most of the nutrition services were continued except for few LGUs which services like cooking demonstration and health and nutrition education were stopped.

It is good to note that most of the health and nutrition services were continued and that health workers and volunteers were provided with personal protective equipment during the conduct of their duty.

Likewise, LGUs sorted to other means of nutrition information, education, and communication during pandemic to include social media messages, SMS/text messages, barangay megaphone announcements and or house-to-house visits.

Moreover, LGUs provided food packs mainly composed of rice, meat, fish and eggs and others especially during lockdown.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture through its city and municipal staff distributed seeds and or starter kits for backyard gardening.

The Regional Nutrition Committee during its First Meeting on 23 March appreciated the NNC for coming out the survey and providing data on the nutrition services during the COVID-19 pandemic.# NASLabordo