Aisyiyah proposes updating disaster emergency guidelines for optimal mother and child nutrition

Aisyiyah's Environmental and Disaster Management Body (LLHPB PP Aisyiyah) is calling for an update to disaster emergency response guidelines, prioritizing the nutritional needs of mothers and children. Rahmawati Husein, chair of LLHPB PP Aisyiyah, stressed the critical importance of meeting toddlers' needs during the emergency and recovery phases.

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So it is indeed important to ensure the needs of toddlers during emergencies and recovery. Because emergencies are important, especially since the emergency transition is still ongoing in Tamiang. It has been six months and it is still an emergency transition.

Husein pointed to the ongoing emergency transition in Tamiang, which has lasted six months, as an example of why sustained attention to nutrition is vital. She explained that a child's nutritional status during recovery is heavily influenced by the initial emergency response. Therefore, nutritional needs must be addressed from the very beginning of humanitarian efforts, not just after the disaster subsides.

While acknowledging the Ministry of Health's existing operational guidelines for feeding infants and children in emergencies, Husein suggested they need refinement based on field experiences. She highlighted the need to move beyond simply distributing calorie-rich foods, like instant noodles and sweetened condensed milk, which are often inadequate for long-term child nutrition. Instead, the focus should shift to building awareness about the nutritional content of aid and ensuring distributed food meets specific needs.

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The Ministry of Health through the Crisis Center already has operational guidelines for feeding infants and toddlers. That was in 2019 and there was one before in 2014. Perhaps our proposal from today's event can be for its refinement.

Furthermore, LLHPB PP Aisyiyah advocates for the inclusion of women and local communities in the recovery process. Their understanding of available local food sources can be invaluable. The organization also noted that the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center is involved in these discussions.

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How to build awareness is important. So activities during the emergency response are not just food distribution activities that are also inappropriate, there is instant food and sweetened condensed milk, but building nutritional awareness from the content becomes important.