CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The National Nutrition Council (NNC)-10 will lead the formulation of the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) 2023-2028 as prevalence of stunting of Filipino children is of “very high” public health significance, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
During the 2nd semester 2022 Joint Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), Regional Nutrition Cluster, RNC Technical Working Group and ECCD First 1000 Days Technical Working Group meeting, Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, nutrition program coordinator, shared about 30% of the country’s children under five years old are stunted, meanwhile, 19% are underweight and 6% are wasted.
The target of the RPAN is to reduce five nutrition problems particularly undernutrition, overnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, infant and young child feeding practices and food insecurity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jose R. Llacuna Jr., Department of Health (DOH) regional director and chairperson of Regional Nutrition Committee 10, underscored that the health of citizenry is a factor of progress.
“I really purposely promised the height boards, stunted is an added indicator for malnutrition. To me, validated data is crucial in planning. Og sige lang ka og sukod sa height ug dili official ang iyang heightboard (If you measure the height with an unofficial heightboard), it does not mean anything to me because it is not scientific in a way. Height may be hereditary, but nutrition is a crucial factor. Diet really helps so much,” he said.
DOH-10 from 2021 up to 2022 has procured 403 height boards, which costs P7,500 each and distributed them to the provinces, Misamis Oriental particularly received 88 height boards.
The proposed activities and timelines for the RPAN formulation is from October to December this year with select RNC-TWG members, representatives of key NGOs in the region that are not represented in the RNC and other stakeholders as may be needed and NNC-10 staff. (JMOR/PIA-10)
