Universal Children’s Day is celebrated annually on 20th November. The goal of Universal Children’s day is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness amongst all children. Initially launched in 1954, Universal Children’s day has seen some milestone events in the field of child welfare. Marking the anniversary of the dates when the UN General assembly adopted both the declaration and convention of children’s rights. The convention sets out a number of children’s rights such as the rights to be protected from violence and discrimination and the rights to life, health and education. Yet, fulfilling the right to health and nutrition of Filipino children remains a challenge that needs to be addressed.
The Philippines currently ranks 9th in the world for having the most stunted children – those too short for their age in which at least 3 in every 10 Filipino children are stunted with Eastern Visayas as one of the regions with a high prevalence, according to a study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Consistent poor nutrition is the cause of stunting and its effects can be long-lasting. Stunting delays both body and brain development, therefore, it may affect children's school performance and future careers. In total, it is estimated that around 3.6 million Filipino children suffer from stunting. And 30% of these children are under 5 years old. Stunted children are also 4 times more at risk of dying.
Based on the data from the National Nutrition Council, at least 53,055 children under five years old in Eastern Visayas are stunted. The number of preschool children with stunted growth represents 18.33% of the total 289,343 children measured through the annual monitoring done by local governments in the region in 2019. Among the provinces in the region, Samar has the highest prevalence of stunting at 29.08 percent, followed by Leyte (17.29%), Biliran (16.94%), Northern Samar (16.75%), Eastern Samar (16.24%), and Southern Leyte (11.64%).
Nutrition is a key pillar of the global COVID-19 response, critical for the world to recover from the pandemic and become more resilient to future shocks. To accomplish this, it is important to assess current rates of hunger and malnutrition – where we were before the pandemic and what the situation is now. Proper nutrition is critical for building a strong immune system and helping the body fight off disease and infection. In the context of COVID-19, the World Health Organization has stressed the importance of good nutrition and healthy diets to promote health. It is important particularly in times when the immune system might need to fight back. It is now more important than ever to consume healthy foods rich in essential micronutrients to strengthen immunity, enhancing resistance and supporting faster recovery.
Investing in our future means investing in our children — which is why the United Nations has designated every November 20 as Universal Children's Day. It's a time to promote togetherness around the world, awareness of the problems children faces in every corner of the globe, and improve the welfare for all children. World Children's Day is a day to celebrate the power of children to change the world. Its a day for children by children – a day to imagine a better future for every child. #LeoChristianLauzon
