5 NegOr Towns Register Low Malnutrition Rate in 2018

Five municipalities in Negros Oriental recorded the lowest malnutrition rate in 2018.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Dr. Liland Estacion disclosed this during the Kapihan sa PIA forum held recently.

Estacion said the municipality of Pamplona registered the lowest malnutrition rate in the province with .5 percent, followed by Dauin with 1.8 percent, Sibulan with 2.4 percent, La Libertad with 3.6 percent, and Siaton with 4.2 percent.

The Provincial Nutrition Action Officer lauded these municipalities especially Pamplona town for their efforts in minimizing the malnutrition rate in their areas.

Estacion said Pamplona has different local support groups and cooperatives that help provide nutrition interventions for children.

On the other hand, the top 10 municipalities with high malnutrition rates are Tayasan, Vallehermoso, Manjuyod, San Jose, Mabinay, Sta. Catalina, Basay, Bindoy, Ayungon, and Jimalalud.

For the component cities category, Canlaon City has the lowest malnutrition rate among the cities of the province with 2.1 percent, followed by Dumaguete City with 2.2 percent, and Tanjay City with 2.9 percent.

Meanwhile, Guihulngan City has the highest malnutrition rate with 9.5 percent, Bais City with 6.6 percent, and Bayawan City with 4.9 percent.

For 2018, the malnutrition rate in the province is 5.6 percent.

Estacion sees this as a huge improvement from the province’s malnutrition rate when Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo stepped into office, which was then at 8.6 percent.

“For 2019, I hope na kaning atong malnutrition rate mo-lower down pa because bag-o man mandate ang atong newly elected, re-elected officials (I am hoping that the malnutrition rate would drop further this 2019 especially with the new mandate given to our newly elected and re-elected officials),” Estacion said.

For now, the PNC’s focus is addressing the problem in stunting.

Stunting occurs when a child’s height is lower than the standard set for a child’s age.

Estacion cited this nutrition concern starts at the conception of the child or in the womb of the mother.

She stressed the importance of providing nutrition interventions during the first 1,000 days of the infant.

“Mao na ron ang atong gi-focus. Sugod pa pagmapdos sa bata hangtod na ang bata mahimong 2 years old. It is part of the program of the government na ang pre-natal tapos manghatag ta ug vitamins. Manghatag ta ug calcium sa mga indigent na mama para matagaan nato ug proteksyon ang mga bata inig gawas nila (That’s what we are focusing on right now. It is part of the program of the government to provide pre-natal care including provision of vitamins and calcium to indigent mothers to protect the child starting from their conception until they reach two years old),” Estacion explained.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its website also noted that impaired growth can also bring other negative effects in the development of a child.

These include poor cognition, lost productivity, and when accompanied by excessive weight gain later in childhood, an increased risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases in adult life.

“So gitagad gyud nato ang first 1, 000 days sa life sa bata kay didto nato makita ang iyan stunting. Stunting man gyud karon ang gi-focus sa atong national government. Sa tibuok Pilipinas daghan pod ang stunted (We are really focusing on the first 1,000 days of life because this is where we address stunting. Stunting is also a concern of our national government. There are a lot of stunted kids across the nation),” Estacion said.

This July, the province joins the nation in observing the National Nutrition Month with the theme “Kumain Nang Wasto at Maging Aktibo… Push Natin To!” which advocates for an active lifestyle complemented with a healthy and balanced diet.

With this, Estacion renewed calls for the different stakeholders to practice a healthy lifestyle.

“Each and every one can contribute to the better nutrition and physical activity for better health,” Estacion emphasized. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)