Friday, November 14, 2008 Undernourished kids undergo feeding program
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- About 200 grade school pupils from a far-flung elementary schools here were the beneficiaries of a feeding program that aimed to eradicate malnutrition among public schools here.
Members Rotary Club of Central Pampanga and Pampanga Provincial Board Committee Health chairperson Edna David trooped to de La Paz Elementary School here on Thursday to formally launch the feeding program for the pupils of the said school.
"Malnutrition has become a potent problem in schools in the countryside, particularly those in far-flung areas and communities where there is little sustainable means of livelihood. Projects like these should be in the top list of government units," David said.
According to school principal Jane Urquico, most of the students in the said school come from families whose main source of income is pedaling tri-bikes for commuters of the barangay.
"Most of them could not really afford nutritious food. When we conducted the weighing of the students we found out that most of them are undernourished," Urquico said, adding that the mental alertness and physical development of the children are extremely affected compared to those who can afford good food.
Under-nutrition is the lack of sufficient nutrients to maintain healthy bodily functions and is typically associated with extreme poverty in economically developing countries.
The Rotary Club of Central Pampanga, along with David, financed the needed budget for the almost three weeks feeding program. The budget would be used to purchase vegetables and other food stuffs for the students who would be given at least one free meal a day.
"If a pupil's nutrition is compromised we are also compromising his ability to learn," she added.
The 200 pupils will be checked and weighed after the end of the program to determine the success of the feeding program.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported that an extended period of malnutrition can result in starvation, disease, and infection. It is also a common cause of reduced intelligence. (IOF)
