Pancil, Barili, Cebu - When Barangay Pancil became 3rd in the 2021 ranking of having the highest overweight and obese child in the municipality of Barili, the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) was alarmed and immediately looked for intermediate actions to solve the problem. They then implemented the strengthened breastfeeding promotion in the barangay in hopes to lessen the number of current and future obese children
Obesity has become a major public health crisis. Childhood obesity has also dramatically worsened and is now considered a major threat to human health.
According to World Health Organization, there are more than 200 million overweight and obese children throughout the world. In Barili’s 2021 OPT Plus result shows that there were 155 total obese 0-59 months old children and 11 of these came from Barangay Pancil.
Many researchers have identified possible interventions to prevent childhood obesity. Among these, breastfeeding has been associated with a decreased risk of obesity, along with other health benefits for the child and mother. The World Health Organization recommends, that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and breastfeeding should be supplemented with additional foods for the first 2 years or beyond.
The BNC under the leadership of Barangay Captain and BNC Chair Hon. Venencia Fernandez during its BNC meeting held on 02 February 2022 approved a resolution to protect, promote and support breastfeeding practices in the barangay to decrease the prevalence of obesity and other forms of malnutrition. The resolution mandates the setting up of a breastfeeding station at the barangay hall and providing support to lactating mothers using the breastfeeding station. It also contained the creation of a breastfeeding support group to follow up with pregnant, soon-to-be pregnant, and lactating mothers to support them in their breastfeeding journey.
With the passage of said BNC resolution, BNS Mercy Laygan said that Pancilanon mothers can now enjoy the breastfeeding station near them. She further opined this would encourage more mothers and future mothers to breastfeed their children and prioritize the interventions in the first 1000 days of their children’s lives. BNC Chair Fernandez for her part challenged other barangay captains to replicate Pancil’s initiative to secure a better future for children not only in Pancil but the entire municipality of Barili. ND II James Aaron S. Perez, RND
