TO HELP address malnutrition, especially among pre-schoolers, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) developed a science and technology-based malnutrition intervention program.
DOST-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Dr. Nancy Bantog disclosed the program DOST PINOY or Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children, is set to be introduced in the Cordillera particularly in Apayao.
Bantog explained the DOST Pinoy is a package of nutrition intervention to reduce prevalence of underweight among 6 to 35 months old children through a 120-day feeding program of children with the FNRI-DOST developed complementary food blends and snack foods such as rice-mongo instant baby food, rice-mongo sesame blend, and rice-mongo curls and crunches.
Along with the complementary feeding, the program will also include nutrition education among mothers/caregivers on basic nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, meal planning, safe food handling/preparation and backyard vegetable gardening.
Bantog also shared the DOST PINOY, which is already being adopted in several regions in the country, was field tested in the provinces of Antique, Occidental Mindoro, Leyte and Iloilo where malnutrition is high. A total of 1,006 children were included in the study and the result showed significant decrease in the prevalence of underweight children.
Just like the national scenario, malnutrition among 0 to 5 years old children in the region remains a concern. The “2011 Survey on Updating of the Nutritional Status of Selected Filipinos”, conducted by the FNRI-DOST, showed that for every 10 Cordillera children 0-5 years old, two are underweight, three are stunted or under-height.
For underweight, the same survey shows that severity is considered medium in Ifugao, Benguet and Mountain Province, high in Abra, and very high in Apayao.
The program in line with the country’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).