Siquijor Province – Nutrition officials of Siquijor promised to take immediate actions to address their nutrition situation. This commitment came up during the first Siquijor Province Joint Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAO) / Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinators (MNPC) meeting last 12 February 2013 held at the ELQ Inn, Siquijor, Siquijor.
Based on the 2011 Updating of Nutritional Status (DOST-FNRI), Siquijor province registered a very high magnitude of underweight children 0-5 years old at 46.0 more than double the national and regional data at 20.2 and 21.6, respectively. The same survey also showed that wasting prevalence is critical and is considered as a public health problem with 23.0% higher than the national average. The situation of school children is also a challenge to nutrition program managers and implementers. The prevalence of underweight school children is also very high based on the WHO classification of magnitude and severity. Measures to improve the nutritional status of children were laid down and the officials vowed to implement them.
The team of NO III Susan Y. Orpilla, RND and NO I Nasudi G. Soluta, RND helped in facilitating the meeting. In attendance were Siquijor PNAO Dr. Redempta A. Cortes; DNPC Ms. Helen S. Jimenez; Hon. Rebecca B. Padayhag Mayor of the Municipality of Maria; Dr. Rhea Joan W. Pal-ing, MHO/MNAO of Enrique Villanueva; and Mr. Jorge A. Arcaya, MNAO of Larena. The municipalities of San Juan, Siquijor, and Lazi sent in representatives as well, with all the seven municipalities represented. //DFB
