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RMI FOOD SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEMRMI 1st NATIONAL FSSD SUMMIT DIALOGUE AUGUST 25TH 2021

By: Earlynta ChutaroEnvironmental Health Program DirectorEnvironmental Health DepartmentRMI Ministry of Health & Human Services

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Food safety: background

• The Food Safety Act 2010 (the Act) constitutes the key legislation in RMI and implementation

described in the Majuro Hospital Emergency Operation Plan

• A number of national authorities and stakeholders have responsibility for managing and

interacting and the RMI National Food & Safety Taskforce which is foreseen to be the main

body to implement response measures

• Power to implement food safety, is vested in MoHHS and

• Multicultural approach; the Minister and Secretary of Health appoint food inspectors members of the RMI National Food & Safety Taskforce

• Training is provided by external technical assistants and targets the National Food & Safety Taskforce

• Established Environmental Health Unit/Ministry of Health & Human Services, July 2019.

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Food safety: overview of capabilities

How it works:

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RMI MoHHS monitors trends and detects foodborne events with an IBS and EBS system are in place.

Laboratory services to investigate hazards in foodborne outbreaks or food safety issues are frequently outsourced abroad

The designated INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point, has a central coordination mechanism in the National Food & Safety Taskforce and in the EpiNet response platform

Participation of the animal health sector is inexistent

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Food safety: overview of stakeholders

RMI Health & Human Services MoHHS

Majuro Atoll Local Government. (MalGovt)

EPA (Environmental Protection (Agency).

Department of Quarantine (NRC).

Department of Custom (MOF).

Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA)

Wellness Center

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Food Safety Strengths & Best Practices

Strengths• Legislation policies and regulations for food

safety in place to develop programs that address foodborne diseases.

• A National Food & Drug Safety Taskforce is been established in 2018

• National Food & Drug Safety Taskforce is trained to manage food safety issues in detected event or outbreaks.

Best practices• Multisectoral involvement to assess and

response is in place

• Response mechanism involves the Taskforce and the EpiNet teams

• Collaboration within the food safety taskforce to investigate after notified increased cases of a food borne disease

• Food safety events are reported and handled (suspected foodborne outbreaks, received complaints, food recalls)

• Close collaboration between the MoHHS surveillance and EpiNet teams

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Food safety: Priority areas for action

· The RMI Government prioritizes the amendment and endorsement of the RMI Food Safety

policy and legislation to strengthening its leadership role in food safety and food safety.

· Review and amend legislation (regulations deriving from “The Food Safety Act”), to allow for

food inspectors authority and increased capacity to adequately implement food safety

regulations.

· Provide to the designated National Food & Drug Safety Taskforce members access to

specific technical/operational training resources and capacity building opportunities on

food safety

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RMI National Food Based Dietary Guidelines – FAO Project TCP3708

Revise and endorse the RMI Nutrition Guidelines (1995)

The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) will collaborate with

relevant stakeholders and the international and national FBDGs consultants

to revise the RMI Nutrition Guidelines by:

• including exercise, betel nut, food group recommendations and others;

• producing nutrition guidelines for vulnerable groups, specifically pregnant

women, and children under 5 years of age; and

• presenting the revised guidelines to MoHHS and stakeholders for

endorsement.

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Our Next Step: implementation of the new RMI Nutrition Guidelines in Majuro and Ebeye

• develop and make available for use the RMI Nutrition Guidelines Implementation Action Plan;

• design and deliver a one-day outreach training workshop for teachers and principals in Majuro and Ebeye (one in each) for

facilitating use of the nutrition guidelines in schools;

• deliver a one-day outreach training workshop for supermarkets, farmers’ markets, restaurants, food vendors, church groups and

community groups on the nutrition guidelines in Majuro and Ebeye;

• develop food safety and food handling guidelines for restaurants, schools and food vendors in Majuro and Ebeye;

• design and produce information, education and communication materials (banners, education booklets) as IEC resources; and

• conduct a pre and post evaluation survey on the RMI Nutrition Guidelines with mothers of children under 5 years, pregnant women

and other community members in Majuro and Ebeye.

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Analysis of Nutrition indicators in RMI

Integrated Child Health and Nutrition Survey 2017

Presented byNozizwe ChigongaMaternal and Child Health SpecialistUNICEF

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Comparison of selected indicators to global thresholds

Selected indicator

Indicator description Indicator national average

Global thresh holds / UNICEF/WHO/WB recommendations*

Low birth weight Children born under 2500g

11.6% (on track)

30% reduction by 2025

Height for age <–2SD/-3SD mod vs severe

Short for your age / Chronic malnutrition / stunting

35.3% (very high)

>30% (very high)20 to <30% (high)10 to <20% (medium)2.5 to <10% (low)

Weight for height <-2SD= MAM <3SD= SAM

Thin for your height / Wasting

3.6% (low) >15% (very high)10 to <15 (high)5 to 10% (medium)2.5 to <5% (low)

Weight for age (under weight) <– 2SD / -3SD mod vs severe

Mixed indicator / could be due to either chronic or acute malnutrition

11.7% Decreases or increases together with wasting and stunting

*“Levels and trends in child malnutrition UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Key findings of the 2019 edition” https://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/jme-2019-key-findings.pdf?ua=1

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Gender

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Area

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KOMOL TATA!

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