By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag
City—Nutrition workers in this province
continue to advocate nutrition preparedness in times of emergencies as they urge
all Ilocanos to always have a ready food stock to prevent hunger and
malnutrition.
This was the highlight of the
culminating program of the 40th Nutrition Month celebration in
Ilocos Norte held at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital attended
by health workers here.
Since the first week of July,
nutrition workers based in various city and municipality health stations have
been conducting nutrition campaigns particularly in coastal barangays where
malnourished children are mostly found.
The campaign focused on
nutrition in emergencies with the theme, “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at
Malnutrisyon Agapan!” (Prepare for emergencies to prevent hunger and
malnutrition!)
Provincial nutritionist Irma
Irapta said a training on nutrition in emergencies was earlier conducted
among nutrition workers in the province to facilitate early intervention and
response.
In support of the national government’s
policy through the National Nutrition Council’s governing board of Resolution
No. 2, series of 2009, she said local government units here and the general
public must recognize the importance of preparedness during emergencies
and to institute recovery measures to prevent death and malnutrition of
affected population groups.
Based on the 2011 National
Nutrition Survey, 20.2% of children aged 0-5 years are underweight; 7.3% of
children aged 0-5 years are wasted; 8.5% of children aged 6-10% years are
wasted; and 33.6% of children aged 5-10 years are stunted.
Records show that malnutrition
in the Philippines is a pre-existing problem and can, therefore worsen when
emergencies and disasters strike.
Provincial hospital
administrator Juanito Chua said there is also an increasing number of obesity
nationwide, which is also a case of malnutrition.
Every month of July, the
country celebrates nutrition as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 491 or the
so called Nutrition Act of the Philippines promulgated in 1974 to fight hunger
and malnutrition.
Comments
Post a Comment