Based on the 8th National Nutrition Survey by FNRI-DOST, the prevalence of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women has decreased in the region from 27.2 % in 2011 to 25.1 % in 2013,but pregnant women who are younger than 20 years old are still exposed to risks, the NNC X reported during July 5 press conference with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region X “Talakayan sa PIA”, as one of the highlight in 2016 Nutrition Month Celebration.
Moreover, Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) among lactating women also registered a decreasing trend from 10.8 % in 2011 to 3.8 % in 2013 while overweight/obese condition significantly increased from 22.2 % to 32.2 % in the same period.
In children 0-5 years old (0-60 mos), the prevalence of undernutrition decreases from 2011 to 2013. Underweight is 21.9 % to 17.7 %, stunting is 37.2% to 33.6 %, and wasting is 7.3 % to 7.0 %, respectively. However, overweight increases from 2.4% to 4.8%.
Nutrition Program Coordinator of National Nutrition Council X Marissa DM Navales said its office is still doing a massive campaign especially on public awareness to maintain and improve regional figures/data in nutrition.
Navales mentioned that barangays lacks creation of their Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC). "Iba kasi ang role nung nasa barangay, sila ang importante kasi sila yung ating first line defense, program implementer sila, at isa na ring policy-making body. Sila yung nakakaalam sino at nasaan itong mga malnourished children," Navales said. “Creation of Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) is the mechanism that the government needs” she added.
Gap
Nadine Angelina Casiño, founder of non-government organization Modern Nanays of Mindanao, said that the government creates gap between the implementation of the program and the "follow-up" that should be done after it is being implemented. “The thing in between”, she added, “is called health education”.
"The government always speaks up on what should be done by the mother while she is still pregnant, but after the baby comes out from her, the mothers are clueless," Casiño said.
"Things like, what should be done when the child cries? Normally it implies that they are hungry so we feed them but for all we know, they could be uncomfortable with the environment or many things. So it is also one of our functions as an organization, we read the babies' crying," she stressed out.
Casiño also slammed the advertisement that promotes complementary and mixed feedings which undermine the importance of breastfeeding.
While nutritional records in the region seem to improve, Casiño pointed out that the problem still exists despite the government's intervention.
Casiño said "Undernutrition, stunting are decreasing lagi daw but wala gihapon sila nawala. Naa lang gihapon na nga problema because we are not feeding babies nutritious foods sa gamay pa lang sila. Because of the fact that we want convenience, we want comfort, and we are made to believe that since it is convenient, it is healthy too, pero dili gyud".
"Dako kini nga abuso sa mama ug bata," she added.
Modern Nanays of Mindanao was established in 2012 aimed at creating a culture among parents that recognizes breastfeeding “as a biological need, respects the environment and practice baby rearing.” (SunStarCDO, 15 July 2016)
