THE National Nutrition Council in Davao recently reported a decline in malnutrition cases among children less than six years old in the region.
The NNC 11 consolidated covering 2013-2015 showed a total of 40,299 underweight children from 0-6 years old preschoolers in 2013 and had a prevalence rate of 6.18 percent.
NNC has recorded 40,103 malnourished children in 2014, which showed a 6.14 percent decrease, while they tallied a total of 36,337 underweight kids that has a 65.44 percent prevalence rate in 2015, showing a 0.74 percent decrease from the preceding year.
“It is good news for us in Davao Region,” said NCC-Regional Nutrition Program coordinator Dr. Maria Teresa Ungson said Monday.
However, she said the regional office would continue to provide adequate assistance to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in the region.
NNC is also considering the “stunted growth” as a challenge because more than 30 percent of the children’s population in the Davao Region has not reached the standard height for their age.
Ungson said it is easier to address the issue on underweight, but it’s always been a challenge to address stunted growth.
“Genetic causes do not primarily contribute to the growth faltering of the child, saying it is based on the nutrients that the mother intake during and after conception,” she explained.
Ungson mentioned that the decrease in malnutrition cases in Davao was achieved because of the efforts of the Scholars (BNS) who work to educate the community.
“Let’s hope na bababa na talaga ang malnutrition dito sa ating bansa kasi ayaw ni President Duterte na may taong nagugutom,” Ungson said.
She added that everybody also has its part in the nutrition program and that the participation of the household also has a role in promoting good dietary habit.
The decline was also attributed to the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD’s) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – also known as 4Ps, because the families listed under the program are required to attend health sessions.
She also cited the contribution of both Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for implementing school gardening project, non-government organizations particularly Rotary Clubs, and Barangay Captains who provided a budget for nutrition programs which are used for feeding and food production at the local level.
