CHAPTER 5  NUTRITION

Introduction 

   Good nutrition is a basic human right.  It is a central element of survival and a critical factor in an individual’s optimum growth and development. A well-nourished population therefore is economically and socially active and can contribute more meaningfully and be able to reap the benefits of development . It is within this context that the government aims to achieve goals for nutrition improvement to ensure nutritional adequacy for all Filipinos.

Development Challenges

 

   The region is faced with problems on continued occurrence of underweight preschoolers and schoolchildren and the prevalence of micro nutrient deficiencies – anemia across all population groups, especially among infants and pregnant and lactating women, iodine deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. There is a need to focus nutrition services to groups and areas with high malnutrition prevalence.

 

   The prevalence of below normal and very low below normal preschoolers decreased from 22.6 percent in 2004 to 20.23 percent in 2006. The targeted percentage decrease of 2 percent per year has been surpassed with a 10 percent decrease. This is a result of nutrition interventions for the vulnerable groups such as the infants, preschoolers, schoolchildren and pregnant and lactating mother. As of 2006, malnutrition was highest in Camarines Sur (25.16 percent) among the provinces and Legazpi (12.20 percent) among the cities. It was lowest in Sorsogon (16.47 percent) and Naga City (4.22 percent). Naga City posted the highest percentage reduction at 24 percent from 2004-2006. On the other hand, the proportion of malnourished schoolchildren increased from 27.8 percent in SY 2004-2005 to 28.10 percent in SY 2005-2006. Contributory factors to the increase include occurrence of health illnesses, non-affordability of poor households to food commodities, inadequate knowledge of parents and caregivers on proper health and nutrition care and improper diet and nutrition habits and practices.

 

   The regional agencies implemented programs in accordance with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) consisting of: (a) home, school and community food production; (b) food fortification; (c )micronutrient supplementation (distribution of Vit. A, iron and iodine supplements); (d) nutrition information; (e), communication and education; (f) food assistance; (g) livelihood assistance; and (h) integration of nutrition in essential maternal and child health services. Specific programs include the following:

 

1. Bright Child Program – a package of interventions on food, nutrition, health, early education and psycho-social programs for children 0-17 years; implemented in 4 provinces – Albay (Malilipot, Pio Duran, Manito, Oas); Camarines Norte (J. Panganiban, Labo);' Masbate (Claveria, Monreal); Camarines Sur ( Minalabac, San Jose, Tigaon, Calabanga, Pasacao, Bula, Baao, Pamplona and Libmanan).

2. Supplemental Feeding Program under Ahon Bayan Project- aims to generate resources for the delivery of day care services and in the conduct of supplemental feeding program covering priority barangays with high incidence of malnutrition; covered the provinces of Albay (Bgys. Bagatangki and Quinarabasahan), and Camarines Sur( Barangay Pararao and Siramag).

3. Food For Work Program – addresses the basic food and the socio-economic needs of the poor through employment and livelihood opportunities for a sustained family income; pilot in 11 municipalities in Camarines Sur covering 335 barangays

4. Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Project – a strategy and tool for nutrition workers in communicating proper nutrition among families to effectively improve and control malnutrition; implemented in the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes with 1,080 parents/mothers as beneficiaries.

5. National Expanded Pre-school Program – aims to eradicate the incidence of hunger and malnutrition in the region especially the undernourished day care children; piloted in Albay (Malinao, Pio Duran, Jovellar), Camarines Norte (Basud, Capalonga and Mercedes), and Masbate (Uson, Placer and Balud).

6. Early Childhood Care and Development Program – refers to child and family-oriented services designed to build and improve the existing health, nutrition and early education services for disadvantaged children.

7. School Feeding Program – includes Fortified Biscuits and Milk Feeding, FreshMilk Feeding, Breakfast Feeding, Food for School Program (Bigas Para sa Mag-aaral at Pamilya), Teacher-Child-Parent Approach and Inter-Vida School Feeding.

8. Micronutrient Supplementation, Promotion of Breastfeeding, Food Fortification, Iodized Salt Utilization, Patak Asin.

Development Objectives and Targets

The objectives and the corresponding targets for each objective are:

1. To reduce hunger incidence and promote good nutrition in food-poor areas.

• Reduction of prevalence rate of malnourished preschoolers from the 2005 level of 21.83 percent to 18.3 percent by 2010.

2. To mitigate protein-energy malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition.

• Reduction in malnutrition cases due to micronutrient deficiencies by 15-20 percent by 2010.

3. To contribute to the reduction in the incidence of low birth weight.

4. To contribute to the reduction by 30% in the prevalence rate of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases by 2010.

Strategies

1. Integrate nutrition activities in sectoral plans particularly on food production, health, early education and psychosocial programs with nutritionally-at-risk families and children and pregnant and lactating mothers as priority.

2. Expand existing programs on maternal and child health and nutrition welfare.

3. Fast-track the implementation of impact programs on nutrition such as the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program for the LGUs to invest on infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding, enforcement of Milk Code, Food Fortification Act and the ASIN Law and provision of logistic support for capability-building, information education campaign and advocacy efforts.

4. Review of the effectiveness of nutrition programs such as the Food for School Program.

5. Promote healthy diet and intensification of  efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat nutritional diseases and related conditions.

Major  Programs and Projects

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