PALO, Leyte - Malnutrition remains a public health problem across the globe. Based on the FNRI-DOST ENNS 2019 Results, FILIPINOS are the 2nd shortest in the ASEAN Region; Philippines is 9th in the highest number of stunted children and 10th in the highest number of wasted children globally.Food insecurity as affected by poverty and high market prices, low coverage of routine immunization for vaccine-preventable diseases, physical inactivity, insufficient quantity and quality of food given to young children aged 6-23 months old, general increase in consumption of processed and animal-source foods, and low rates of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months due to aggressive marketing of infant formula milk and lack of parent’s nutrition knowledge are some of the underlying causes of malnutrition in the Philippines.
In order to address the different forms of malnutrition, we have the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN 2017-2022) which is built on three pillars/major programs, namely: nutrition-specific programs, nutrition-sensitive programs, and enabling programs. PPAN 2017-2022 aims to reduce the wasting and stunting among children under five (5) years old, reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improved situation in overweight and obesity.
Nutrition-Sensitive Programs is one of the major programs of PPAN. These are interventions of sectors complementary to nutrition. These can also be used as delivery platforms to increase the scale, coverage, and effectiveness of nutrition-specific interventions.
Examples of nutrition-sensitive programs are agriculture and food security, early child development, child protection, social safety nets, maternal mental health, women’s empowerment, water and sanitation and health and family planning services. #PNFP-ABL
