COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has extended nutrition assistance to families affected by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Manay, Davao Oriental, on October 10.
Working closely with the Department of Health–Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Davao Region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region XI, and local health offices, MOH-BARMM teams conducted nutrition assessments for children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and caregivers in evacuation centers.
Health Minister Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding Jr. ordered the deployment of assistance on October 13, directing MOH Nutrition Division Chief Celia C. Sagaral to coordinate with local agencies.
“The MOH and the government of the day, under the leadership of Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, are always ready to extend a hand and care for our communities in times of crisis,” Sinolinding said.
MOH: Safe and Adequate Food
The MOH-BARMM’s response included:
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50 cartons each of complementary and supplementary food boxes
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3,600 sachets of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF)
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1,500 sachets of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)
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18,000 sachets of micronutrient powder
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500,000 ferrous folic acid capsules
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18,000 multivitamin supplements for pregnant women
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100 bottles of iron drops
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20 breastfeeding bags
According to Sagaral, the intervention aimed to ensure the availability of safe and adequate food for displaced families, especially vulnerable groups such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly.
“We conducted a rapid nutrition assessment to determine the immediate nutritional needs of the population. Our team also identified issues related to public health, water and sanitation, shelter, and communicable diseases,” she said.
Humanitarian Support
Sagaral joinedthe joint response mission alongside Dr. Greggy Mark Yee of DOH-CHD Davao Region, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in Mati, and the Rural Health Unit of Manay.
The assistance from MOH-BARMM was officially received by Dr. Kris Trangia, Head of Health Emergency and Management Services (HEMS) of DOH-Davao Region, and Pharmacist Rose Balite.
The coordinated effort underscores BARMM’s commitment to extending humanitarian support beyond its borders, in the spirit of solidarity with disaster-affected communities.
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