CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 10 (PIA 10/Jasper Marie O. Rucat) - The Media Advocates for Nutrition in Governance in Region 10 (MANGO DIEZ) have set new plans and strategies in how to go about nutrition activities this year amid health conditions brought about by COVID19.
In a virtual meeting with the members, National Nutrition Council (NNC)-10 discussed local media plan, airing of 10 Kumainments Nutrition School on-the-Air (NSOA), 2020 Nutrition Month Plan and Short Filmmaking Contest.
According to nutrition program coordinator, Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, these advocacies are important because among the priorities of the government is to ensure nutrition especially the vulnerable sector and the children amid COVID19 pandemic.
NNC-10 classified indicators for malnutrition in the country: underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight/obese.
Based on international data, the Philippines ranks fifth among countries in the East Asia and Pacific Region with highest stunting prevalence and one of 10 countries with highest number of stunted children in the world.
Currently, one in three or 30.3 percent of children 0-59 months old are stunted with stunting highest among 12-23 months at 36.6 percent.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 aims to reduce stunting 33.4% in 2015 to 21.4 percent in 2022.
Stunting, in definition, is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.
World Health Organization describes "Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median."
Stunting especially in the first 1000 days (conception until the age of two) has harmful consequences for the individual and society. These includes: low educational performance; 1.5 to 3 percent loss in GDP annually; lost productivity; and increased risk of non-communicable diseases and even death.
That is why, Fernandez said, this year’s 46th nutrition month campaign is focused on prevention of child stunting.
In region 10, 4 out of 10 preschool children are stunted at 36.5 percent. There has been a slight increase from the 33.3 percent prevalence in 2013. Per province stunting prevalence is as follows: Lanao del Norte is at 45 percent, Bukidnon is 37.6 percent, Misamis Oriental, 34.3 percent, Misamis Occidental, 25.5 percent and Camiguin, 23.1 percent.
NNC 10 said, mothers, frontline health and nutrition workers would consider stunting as hereditary and not considered a problem. But NNC clarified, this is not the case. Nutrition [or lack thereof] is a big part of stunting.
Further, based on survey, only 29 percent of five months old infants are exclusively breastfed. Meanwhile, 13.4 percent of children 6-23 months meet the minimum acceptable diet and 53.9 percent of Filipino households are classified as food insecure.
