Malnutrition Cases Decreases in Central Visayas Since Pandemic

Cases of malnutrition in Central Visayas had stabilized this year, according to a report by National Nutrition Council 7 (NNC 7).

NNC 7 conducted the 2022 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus and revealed that the cases of malnutrition in the region have returned to their pre-pandemic numbers.

In 2022, the underweight prevalence had decreased to 3.6% compared to 3.97% in 2019 and a big spike of 4.9% in 2021.

The case of obesity, which also saw a spike in the number of obesity cases during the height of the pandemic, has also stabilized. In 2022, the prevalence rate of obesity decreased to 2.8% from 3.1% in 2021 — while in 2019, the prevalence rate was 2.78%.

Stunting or chronic malnutrition cases in the region have also decreased, from 9.7% (1 out of 10 children) in 2021 to 8.5% (2 in every 25 children) in 2022.

Meanwhile, acute malnutrition or wasting cases in the region have also decreased. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, 14,382 children suffered from acute malnutrition. Cases then increased to 17,884 children in 2021. While in 2022, the number of wasting or acute malnutrition cases in the region decreased to 14,503.

In a press release, NNC 7 said the cases of malnutrition may have decreased last year, but a possible problem in chronic malnutrition still poses a danger in a few years, which has built up due to the pandemic. Ensuring babies and mothers receive proper health, nutrition, and food security in the first 1000 days would help combat chronic malnutrition, a challenge regional and local nutrition committees must take on to sustain the region’s improved nutrition situation.

With LGUs completing their annual OPT Plus this year, NNC 7 hopes to see more improvement in the nutrition situation in the region. (ASC)