Parañaque nutrition program benefits children

MANILA, Philippines - Parañaque’s “Operation Timbang,” spearheaded by the Nutrition Division of the City Health Office, reported that the Below Normal Low (BNL) prevalence rate in pre-school children in the city has decreased from 2.57% in January to March in 2008 to 2.33% in January to March 2009, as figures in the Below Normal Very Low (BNVL) category also dipped from 0.50% to 0.45% in the same period.  Likewise, the number of kids in the Normal category also rose from 96% to 96.5%, however figuring a fall in the Above Normal category from 0.89% to 0.70%.

The report was made early this month at the 35th anniversary celebration of Nutrition Month at the Parañaque City hall grounds, which was attended by city officials and employees, day care parents, teachers, and students.

Bannering the contemporary theme “Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan!” chief nutritionist Abelyn Bugayong attributes the improvement in the nutrition status of the preschool children to the city government’s continuous information and education campaigns in schools and communities, particularly in the depressed areas where the majority of the kids who are classified in the BNL and BNVL categories reside.

She also credits the supplementary feeding under the Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) program that is being undertaken in the different barangays in the city by the Parañaque DSWD under Dean Calleja. The Nutrition Division also thanked Parañaque First Lady Ma. Fe “Girlie” Bernabe for her vigorous support to the said program.

“Proper nutrition is vital to the physical, mental, and educational development of children. We are committed to seeing that every child in the city is well-fed and in good health for they are the future of Parañaque,” says City Mayor Jun Bernabe.           

Among the activities scheduled by the City Nutrition Office for this month are: monitoring of public and private school canteens, on-the-spot poster making contest, food contest, nutri quiz, nutritional program review for midwives, and a cooking demonstration called “A Date with a Nutritionist.”