CV ranks 5th in annual nutritional  status report

Central Visayas has ranked 5th in the recent annual nutritional status report of secondary students in public schools in the country.

The report was based on the weights of the secondary students tabulated by the Department of Health with the help of the National Nutrition Council.

The baseline weights determine the weight of students at the start of the class while the endline weights determine the weight of students at the end of the school year.

The tabulation of the endline weights, which was done at the end of the school year, will determine whether there is an increase in the malnutrition rate of the secondary students.

Based on the report, the National Capital Region ranked first followed by Region IV-B and A, while Region 3 got the fourth place.

The report noted that for the past three years, there was a decrease in the malnutrition rate of children in the region from 4.54 percent to 1.31 percent.

The decrease was due to different programs implemented by the DOH with the aid of the NNC. These programs were on nutrition education, safety precautions of food sold at school canteens, feeding services and the involvement of parents.

This year, it is expected that the malnutrition level in the region would decrease again due to the DOH programs.

Meanwhile, on the elementary level, Talisay City ranked first on the list with 26.01 percent followed by Bayawan City with 24.73 percent and Bais City with 24.57 percent.

Toledo City was fourth with 24.1 percent followed by Bohol, 23.83 percent; Oriental Negros, 23.8 percent; Lapu-Lapu City, 23.78 percent; Cebu, 23.37 percent; Mandaue City, 22.37 percent; and Cebu City, 21.97 percent. — Phoebe Jen Indino/LPM