THE Mandaue City Government recorded a significant drop in the number of underweight students and mortality rate of children in the city this year.
These were among the highlights of City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing’s first Statement of Children’s Report (SCR) yesterday.
At least 1,200 students from the day care centers of the 27 barangays and Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School gathered at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
Quisumbing’s SCR marked the kick-off ceremony of the Children’s Month celebration in the city.
During the activity, the children entertained the city and education officials with dance presentations.
The mayor reported the progress of some of the city’s programs in child and youth welfare, health and nutrition, and education.
For health and nutrition, Quisumbing said the percentage of underweight children ages 0-71 months has gone done from 1.94 percent in 2016 to 1.79 percent so far in 2017.
The decreased of number of underweight children means that the infants health is improving.
Based on the data of the Department of Education Mandaue City Division, “severely wasted and wasted students (or malnourished)” went down to 4,942 this school year from the 5,467 last school year.
The mayor acknowledged the benefit of the School-Based Feeding Program that improve the health of the students.
Mandaue’s infant mortality rate (IMR) is four deaths per 1,000 live births from January to June this year.
“This is below the country’s rate of 16.1 deaths per 1,000 live birth. This means that mothers and unborn children are healthy and given proper care before and during childbirth,” he said.
As to the mortality rate of children under 5 years old, the city’s mortality rate is three deaths per 1,000 live births, which is far from what is considered as an abnormal rate.
Quisumbing said 152 children who were rescued from violence, nine who needed special protection and 23 who are “in contact with the law” are staying at the HOME Children’s Center in Mandaue.
“Our Day Care Centers are also providing early childhood education and hot meals to the youngest of our students, about 4,656 of them. To guide these youngsters, we trained 45 day care workers,” said Quisumbing.
There are a total of 96,961 students who are currently enrolled in primary and secondary levels in public and private schools in the city.
Quisumbing named and congratulated the schools that excelled in regional, national and international competitions.
Jessie Perez, chief of the City Social Welfare and Services Office, assured everyone that the City Government will guide the youth.
“The City Government will help in giving the children a path away from harm and illegal drugs,” he added. (FMG)