Koronadal City---Despite the pandemic, South Cotabato recorded a dropping number of stunted and wasted children aged 0-59 months old in the last three years, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Rudy Jimenea revealed in a press conference held recently.
"South Cotabato has the least number of malnourished children among the provinces of SOCCSKSARGEN last year based on the data of the National Nutrition Council in the region," Jimenea presented.
The record showed that South Cotabato is in fifth place with .09% wasted children while 4.8% stunted children according to the Trends of Malnutrition among pre-school children by Prevalence Rates.
"South Cotabato covered 85.84 percent of pre-school children during the Operation Timbang Plus coverage in 2021," Jimenea said.
He also emphasized that no towns and cities in South Cotabato are in the top 10 local government units in SOCSKSARGEN with the highest prevalence rates.
In the onslaught of the pandemic, South Cotabato recorded 1,808 underweight children and 298 severely underweight children in 2020. However, it went down to 1,481 under-weight children and 187 severely under-weight children last year.
Meanwhile, Jimenea ensured the delivery of essential health and nutrition in the first 1000 days.
For the first semester this year, the Buntis Alagaan Tamang Atensyon Kailangan, extended supplementary feeding and vitamin supplementation to 100 identified pregnant mothers, including teen mothers in the province.
Among the previous 100 pregnant women beneficiaries this first semester, 90 of them gave birth to babies with normal weight.
He pointed to improving access to health and nutrition programs in far-flung areas, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, urban poor, resettlement areas, and indigenous peoples.
"Roads to these areas are already passable and concrete," he said, stressing the target is possible.
Jimenea said the fast service delivery of nutrition programs as the administration of Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. promised to bring the program to the grassroots level.
Jimenea, a father of two, added the importance of the father in promoting the proper eating habits of the children.
Written by: Annaliz Cabrido/PIO-South Cotabato Province
