SoLeyte bares prevalence of malnutrition in East Visayas

By Rebecca S. Cadavos

Thursday 16th of February 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- The Provincial Nutrition Council in a meeting held Tuesday bared how the region fares regarding the prevalence of malnutrition by municipality throughout Eastern Visayas Region.

Provincial nutritionist Nilda Rich disclosed in a meeting with the PNC-Technical Working Group that the municipality of Pintuyan, in Southern Leyte was at top 25, having 20.97 percent underweight from 68.1 percent total preschoolchildren (Operation Timbang coverage). Number 1 went to San Jorge from the province of Samar, with 30.50 percent underweight from the 64.74 percent conducted OPT.

While Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar have 29.72 percent from the weighted 43.50 percent and San Jose de Buan from Samar with 29.66 percent over the weighed pre-schoolers of 64.53 percent, second and third ranks respectively.

Rich reported that the municipality of Limasawa ranked the least at 137th place from the total municipalities throughout Eastern Visayas, with only 4.19 percent underweight pre-schoolers. Limasawa already won the Galing Pook Award for the implementation of nutrition program, it was learned.

Rich informed that all muncipalities from the provinces of Eastern Visayas region were ranked according to the number of malnourished pre-schoolers from the OPT coverage. “Leyte’s first municipality was at top 12 with Jaro having 25.75 percent from 84.99 percent OPT coverage; Biliran at 64th with Caibiran town having 16.48 percent out of 83.41 percent OPT coverage; and Eastern Samar with Gen,. McArthur as the first municipality that ranked 43rd with 18.69 percent out of 82.27 covered OPT,” she added.

The presentation was made by Rich as a feedback from the District Nutrition Provincial Coordinators’ meeting held from January 31-February 1, 2012 at Tacloban City hosted by the National Nutrition Council through Regional Nutrition Program coordinator Carina Z. Santiago.

On the other hand, Rich also expounded on the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act No. 10028, or the promotion of breastfeeding and the establishment of rooming-in and breastfeeding practices, where any establishment, whether public or privately-run are encouraged to put-up a breastfeeding room for working mothers who breastfeed their babies

The meeting was attended by members of PNC-Technical Working Group such as the National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Interior and Local government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), among other member-provincial offices. (PIA 8-Southern Leyte)