Sunday, July 29, 2012

BANGUED, Abra -- Members of the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) has been doubling efforts to trim down malnutrition rate in the province, the highest in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

As part of the various activities being carried out like health education, the PNC is going around the province this Nutrition Month, checking on the implementation of the nutrition programs of the municipal health units.

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Abra has the highest rate of malnutrition in the entire Cordillera region, posting 12.77 percent malnutrition rate in 2011, but down from 14.25 percent malnutrition rate in 2010.

Mary June Adriatico-Algarne, provincial nutritionist, said a total of 4,138 children out of the 32,000 children in Abra are recorded as malnourished.

Per statistical report of the Abra Integrated Provincial Health Office, the following are the top 10 malnourished municipalities in the province: Danglas 26.34 percent; Pilar 22.36 percent; Lagangilang 21.86 percent; Tineg 19.04 percent; San Quintin 18.93 percent; San Isidro 18.26 percent; Malibcong 17.25 percent; Tayum 15.45 percent; Manabo 13.70 percent; and Boliney 12.90 percent.

Most of the malnourished children are those who are underweight, which Algarne said, could be attributed to poverty as indicated by the lack of food, especially vegetables and other nutritious food that are supposed to be given to children on a daily basis.

Aside from the inadequacy of food, another reason or cause of malnutrition is the inappropriate intake or wrong choices of food, especially among children, who love to eat junk foods.

The PNC effort is backed by Nutrition Month celebration's theme, Pagkain ng Gulay ugaliin; Araw-araw itong ihain to remind parents of the importance of giving their children vegetables and other nutritious food that boost the health condition of the family members. (Maritess Beas)

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Nutrition council acts on malnutrition cases