NNC issues reminders during emergencies amid bad weather

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) MIMAROPA Region issued reminders on Monday to ensure proper nutrition during emergencies amid torrential rain in the past days.

In a social media post, the NNC urged lactating mothers to continue breastfeeding, as breast milk helps protect infants from infections. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for infants under six months old.

NNC said non-breastfed infants are at higher risk of diarrhea, respiratory infections, malnutrition, and even death.

"Formula feeding poses harm during emergencies due to limited access to safe water, sterilized bottles, and fuel for preparation," NNC said.

In cases where a mother is unable to breastfeed her child, alternative feeding options include:

• feed expressed breastmilk using a cup
• have another breastfeeding mother nurse the baby
• pasteurized donor breastmilk

NNC also advised the public to ensure that clean water is used for drinking, food preparation, and feeding, and to dispose of any food or beverages contaminated by floodwater, as they may cause diarrhea and other illnesses.

Available canned goods or relief food packages can also be made more nutritious by adding vegetables, fruits, legumes, or other nutrient-rich foods to improve nutritional value and provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber during emergencies.

Local nutrition clusters, meanwhile, must update resource inventory and mapping of the following:

• Vitamin A capsules
• Multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs)
• Iron tablets with folic acid
• Weight-for-length/height reference tables
• Weighing scale
• Height board
• Vitamin A capsules
• MUAC tapes
• RUTF and RUSF
• Nutrition IEC materials

They are also advised to coordinate with partners along with the following concerns:

• Camp managers for establishment of mother-baby friendly spaces and community kitchens in evacuation areas;
• Infant feeding/Breastfeeding Support Groups for activation and visit to evacuation centers to encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding and to uphold the No Milk Donation Policy;
• Potential wet nurses or donors' breastmilk;
• Local Nutrition Cluster to report to the Regional Nutrition Cluster the situation of the provinces

PAGASA reported that the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will continue to bring rains over Luzon and the western section of the Visayas on Monday.

The state weather bureau also continues to monitor Tropical Storm Peilou outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As of 2 p.m., Peilou was located 2,980 km east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 k/h near the center, gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and moving eastward at 35 km/h. —AOL, GMA News