MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–Recognizing the malnutrition case existing in some parts of the locality, the local government unit here through its City Health Office (CHO) keeps on its fight to get better situation of the health condition until it is finally solved.
City Health Officer Dr. Ali Dalidig detailed that previously, they had good data on malnutrition but when the siege occurred in 2017 followed by the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, the number of malnourished children increased which pushed the city government to strive to pull this count down.
He stated that fortunately, they were able to address the cases here, logging only 3% to 5% of malnourished people out of the total population at the present.
“Because of the programs of the city government, ngayon naibalik natin sa mababang antas ang malnutrisyon ng Marawi [we are now able to return the malnutrition of Marawi to a low level],” said Dalidig.
The city health officer shared that as they combat the malnutrition concern in the city, they prepared programs for immediate implementation in barangays needing support.
He bared that they keep on leading Operation Timbang and supplemental feeding in barangays noted to have existing malnutrition cases.
Dalidig added that they also give vitamins, supplementation and anti-helminthiasis as they consider the fact that with persisting parasitic infection in a person, no nutrition can be absorbed from the food eaten.
“Hindi sila mabibigyan ng nutrition kasi kinakain lang ng parasite ang kanilang pagkain so we have to counter that para manumbalik ang kalusugan,” he said.
[They cannot be given nutrition because the food they eat would only be consumed by the parasite so we have to counter that for their health to return.]
Dalidig posted that they intend to reach a lower status of malnutrition before the current year concludes.
“Gusto nating maibaba ang malnutrition rate before the end of the year. Malaki ang programa ng ating pamahalaan,” said Dalidig.
[We want to lower the malnutrition rate before the end of the year. Our government is preparing for a big program.] (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
