TACLOBAN
CITY, Oct. 19 (PNA) – The central government is pushing for an early warning
system to avert food insecurities among poverty-stricken communities in Eastern
Visayas.
Dubbed as
early warning system for food and nutrition security (EWS-FNS), the National
Nutrition Council (NNC) in partnership with Food and agriculture organization
(FAO) and Department of agriculture, the program has been strongly advocating
among local government units to perform their task in warning families of
impending food price hike and food shortage.
The NNC
piloted the program in Gandara, a second class town in Samar. Recently,
concerned agencies also launched the program in Hilongos, Leyte.
EWS aims to
detect what period of the year food insecurity will likely occur in an specific
area. Through this intervention, NNC hopes to address hunger and malnutrition
in the region.
“EWS-FNS was
launched for the hope of improving nutritional status especially among
children. The system would guard the locality from food insecurity which
subsequently result in hunger, diseases,
malnutrition and even death,” said NNC
regional nutrition program coordinator Catalino Dotollo, Jr.
Spearheaded
by NNC, there have been household level trainings in selected areas. Families
were surveyed what food are available in their community such as fruits and
vegetables and their corresponding price.
The
initiative also raises the capacity off municipal nutrition committee to warn
residents if in case there would food shortage and price adjustment.
“Issues will
then be planned out by the local nutrition committee as to what appropriate
actions they would take,” Dotollo explained.
FPV/SQM/MA. MERCEDES C. ARPON, LNU INTERN/EGR
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