Child stunting is considered a national and global issue as it is an irreversible outcome of inadequate nutrition and repeated bouts of infection during the first 1000 days of a child’s life. According to the  World Health Organization (WHO), childhood stunting is one of the most significant impediments to human development, globally affecting approximately 162 million children under the age of 5 years. From the latest data of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey, one in three or over 30.3% of children 0-59 months old were stunted. The WHO classifies the prevalence of stunting in the Philippines as a public health problem.

Is it possible to reduce stunting?

Yes! Global data shows that from 2000 to 2017, stunting rates fell from 32.6% to 22.2%. In fact, other countries such as Peru and Bolivia have already made a remarkable reduce in stunting levels. The Philippines can also do the same with the help and coordination of mothers and family members, their communities, government, academe, NGOs, civic groups, civil society and private sector.

What are the key actions for mothers and family members to prevent stunting?

This year’s Nutrition Month theme “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL… Iwas Stunting, SAMA ALL! Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!” is focused on reducing the prevalence of stunting through a multi-sectoral approach. Mothers, caregivers and family members play important roles to prevent stunting. Here are the key actions for mothers, caregivers and family members to take note of:

1. Monitor the child’s weight and height- Bring your 0-23 months old child to the health center every month to monitor his/her weight and height, and for older children, bring them every three months or quarterly.

2. Exclusively breastfeed- Mothers should know that they should only breastfeed their baby in the first 6 months and still continue breastfeeding while giving a variety of food that includes animal-source food after the first 6 months.

3. Practice good hygiene- Mothers should practice handwashing to prevent disease and get proper medical care when their child is sick.

4. Participate in nutrition and health education classes- Mothers should also educate themselves by joining and participating in classes where they can acquire knowledge on malnutrition and its consequences and nutritious food recipes.

5. Start your own backyard garden- Having your own backyard garden and raising small animals can help the mothers be more accessible to fresh fruits and vegetables and other sources of protein.

If these tips are being practiced by every household, we can actually contribute in reducing the prevalence of stunting in the Philippines. The effort of one may spark a little change but the contribution of many will contribute to a bigger and better results.

AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot

Sources:

2020 Nutrition Month talking points