THE prevalence of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women has decreased in the region from 27.2 percent in 2011 to 25.1 percent in 2013, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Northern Mindanao reported Tuesday, July 5.
But pregnant women who are younger than 20 years old are still exposed to risks, the NNC said during Monday's press conference as one of the highlights of the July Nutrition Month celebration.
A decreasing trend in Chronic Energy Deficiency among lactating women also registered a decrease from 10.8 percent in 2011 to 3 percent in 2013 while overweight/obese condition significantly increased from 22.2 percent in the same period.
For children who are 0-5 years old, the NNC also observed a decrease in the prevalence of under nutrition from 2011 to 2015 while stunting or low length of height in 2001 also decreased from 37.2 percent to 33.4 percent in 2015.
Underweight records reduced from 21.9 percent in 2011 and 21.5 percent in 2015 but the region however observed an increased in overweight prevalence from 2.4 to 3.9 percent in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Nutrition program coordinator of the Regional National Nutrition Council Marissa DM Navales said its office is still doing a massive campaign especially on public awareness to maintain the region's improved figures.
Navales cited one program which she said is what barangays lack – their own nutrition councils.
"Iba kasi ang role nung nasa barangay, sila ang importante kasi sila yung ating first line of defense, program implemetor siya, at isa na ring policy-making body. Sila yung nakakaalam sino at nasaan itong mga malnoursihed children, saang purok for exmaple, down to the grassroots level," Navales said.
Navales said the creation of nutrition councils in barangays is the mechanism that the government wants.
Gap
Nadine Angelina Casiño, founder of nongovernment organization Modern Nanays of Mindanao, the government creates gap between the implementation of the program and the "followup" that should be done after it is implemented.
The thing in between, she said, is called health education.
"The government always speaks up on what should be done by the mother while she is till pregnant, but after the baby comes out from her, the mothers are clueless," Casiño said.
"Things like, what should be done when the child cries? Normally it implies, they are hungry so we feed them but for all we know, they could be uncomfortable with the environment or many things. So it is also one of our functions as an organization, we read the babies' crying," she said.
Casiño also slammed the advertisements which promotes complementary and mixed feedings which undermine the importance of breastfeeding.
While nutritional records in the region seem to improve, Casiño pointed out that the problem still exists despite the government's intervention.
"Undernutrition, stunting are decreasing lagi daw but wala gihapon sila nawala. Naa lang gihapon na nga problema because we are not feeding babies nutritious foods sa gamay pa lang sila. Because of the fact that we want convenience, we want comfort, and we are made to believe that since it is convenient, it is healthy too, pero dili gyud," Casiño said.
"Dako kini nga abuso sa mama ug bata," she added.
Modern Nanays of Mindanao was established in 2012 aimed at creating a culture among parents that recognizes breastfeeding “as a biological need, respects the environment and practice baby wearing.”