Thursday, June 14, 2012

Aklan’s Low Malnutrition Prevalence Must Be Validated


by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

“The Provincial Nutrition Plan” is topic of Kapihan on June 2, 2012 at Smokehauz Resto & Bar. The guests are Ms. Criscini S. Roxas, Provincial Nutrition Program Coordinator – PHO and Ms. Mary Jane Alianza, Agricultural Tech. Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino cited the Nutrition Act of 1974 that re-enforced PD 491. That Statute encourages full support to nutrition program in line with the national aspiration and interest of health and well-being. The targets are most vulnerable groups, children and pregnant lactating mothers. To ensure the survival and excellent health of its citizens, a Provincial Nutrition Committee is organized headed by Governor Carlito S. Marquez. The action officers are Dr. Victor Santamaria and Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr. The support groups are DOH, DA, DSWD, DepEd, DILG, PIA, Rotary Club of Kalibo, and Abante Aklan.

To determine the state of nutrition, the universal standard of ideal height and weight for age ratio is being used. Operation Timbang (OPT) carried on infants and preschoolers by health workers are periodically conducted to determine changes. Weighed kids are issued individual card with serial number for easy referral and assistance. 

It is significant to note that obesity among preschoolers is a disturbing trend. Youngsters in urban centers are addicted to junk foods and junkies that are laden with fat and calories. Pre-occupation in computer games and TV viewing limit physical activities. “Obesity is actually 20 percent in excess of ideal body weight, therefore a disease”, said Roxas.

The Office of Provincial Agriculturist under Mr. William Castillo is continuing the program on Gulayan sa Paaralan, reported Ms. Alianza. The OPA provides technical assistance and planting materials to the DepEd. The harvest is channeled to the school feeding program. It also extends character loans to farmers who raise backyard poultry, swine, hito and rootcrops like cassava, and camote. Loan bears negligible interest, matures in 3 years and the payment is rolled over for the next batch of borrowers. So far, the program is successful in several municipalities like Altavas, Makato, Lezo, Nabas, and Tangalan. There is built-in pro-active measures such as careful screening of applicants, technical supervision, and follow-up, reported Ms. Alianza. 

The malnutrition prevalence in Aklan has steadily declined from 7.18 percent in 2010 to 6.34 percent in 2011, reported the PHO. This is welcome development as malnutrition scourge is no longer a threat but it should be totally eradicated. Libacao has the lowest malnutrition prevalence rate of 1.1 percent. 

Ms. Venus Villanueva of PIA reported that Madalag has also negligible percentage of malnutrition. The reason is heavy consumption of vegetables especially gabi, malunggay, camote tops, beans and squash. Bereft of cash and imported milk, mothers nurture their children on breast-feeding for six months. 

A closer look on Libacao and Madalag reveals that their main focus on poverty alleviation is on: Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and Conditional Cash Transfer of DSWD, irrigation and farm-to-market roads and Abaca Production program.

In OPT, PHO requires that all pre-schoolers and infants in barangays are weighed in a designated area usually a Brgy. Hall or Brgy. Health Center. The compliance of parents to this is voluntary and presumed benefits are hazy. Majority especially those with malnourished kids will not bother going to designated area. Social stigma follows a negative report hence OPT though harmless is avoided as much as possible. Outcome is more healthy and normal kids dominate the picture.  

An acceptable standard of determining the prevalence of malnutrition among kids and pregnant lactating mothers can be done by trained statisticians of NSO and BAS. They can accurately determine the nutritional status of any barangay and municipality. 

How will the Filipino household deal with food inadequacy and malnutrition? When financial crisis and survival are at stake, families must brace for hard times ahead. Strategies include food production, learn basic nutrition education and family planning. Each household must be a food factory in both rural and urban areas. Mass media (radio, TV, newspapers/magazines) and membership in food producers association can be very good sources of information in food production and nutrition. Child spacing and responsible parenthood must be practiced to limit birth to the capacity to give needed care.

The used of discarded wooden boats is an ingenious idea on vegetable production in raising vegetables. Batan fisherfolks fill their boats with the needed amount of garden soil, sand and decayed organic matter and then plant with vegetables. Palamayanan project or Bahay Kubo farming of DA is an excellent model in food self-sufficiency and efficiency but the project hardly gets appreciation or support from farmers group. This skepticism and indifference has no place since the foundation of civil and progressive societies is hard work and self reliance. “Bahala na” attitude and “mañana habit” are all vestiges of the past dangerous to exercise now.

Nutrition is not stuffing one’s stomach with food to ease hunger but a calculated balanced food nutrients intake at a definite time with reference to the basic food pyramid in grade school. 

UN Food Programme estimates that one of three persons worldwide go to bed hungry each night. Hidden hunger kills. Long term protein, vitamins and minerals deficiencies result in debilitating illness like nutritional anemia, zeropthalmia, goiter, marasmus, beri-beri, and kwashiorkor. 

Aklan’s low prevalence of malnutrition must be validated by competent authorities since present statistics on poverty, food consumption and unemployment clearly do not support the improved nutritional status.  /MP  

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