COMMENTARY: Proper nutrition so Filipino kids can grow up healthy

With over 30 years of experience in the food sector, I have a lifelong interest in proper nutrition and its role in empowering Filipinos to grow up healthy, to achieve their fullest potential. My interest is motivated, as a mother and professional, by the country’s serious malnutrition challenges especially among children, and addressing them in effective ways, based on science.

I believe that the importance of proper nutrition cannot be emphasized enough, especially during the first 2,000 days of life—from conception to age five. Rapid brain development and physical growth occur during this critical period, and proper nutrition will shape a child’s long-term health and wellbeing, educational outcomes, as well as social and emotional skills. All these factors will determine their success in academics and later in life.

Given this background, the latest DOST-FNRI dataI on malnutrition show that stunting, or pagkabansot, continues to affect two in every 10 (23.6%) children under five years old, while 5.6% suffer from wasting. About two in every 10 (15.1%) Filipino children are underweight. Malnutrition can start during fetal development, impacting both maternal and infant health, leading to lasting health problems for children. Difficulty in accessing nutritious food, particularly among low-income households, the lack of nutrition education, and poor access to basic health services exacerbate these problems.

As we celebrate our 110th year at Wyeth Nutrition, we focus on how age-appropriate nutrition, that is, receiving the right nutrients in correct amounts at each developmental stage of childhood, is key to optimal growth. The dietary needs of children change as they grow, as they become able to eat a wider variety of foods with macro and micronutrients. In the case of milk, crucial to a growing child’s diet, we that our high quality, innovative, and science-proven products optimally serve the needs of children up to school age.

We know stories of children we keep in touch with, who have or are growing up nourished with our products, achieving extraordinary accomplishments. Among our current Promil Gifted Kids is Tili Bolzico, age 5. A multi-lingual child conversant in English, Tagalog, French and Spanish, she led a team of four other Gifted Kids in creating the first-ever Promil animated film, made by Gifted Kids for Gifted Kids. Another Gifted Kid is Alfie Burnand, age 5, who has consistently developed advanced language skills. Along with other Promil Gifted Kids, Batang May Laban, and Ascenda Kids, their development points to the power of proper nutrition in enabling children to discover their potential, pursue their dreams, and live meaningful lives. 

Scientific studies conducted with partner organizations and research centers validate the positive impact of Wyeth Nutrition’s products on the overall health and growth of children under five years old. One randomized, parallel clinical study reveals that consuming pre-school milk improves the nutrient intakes and growth of children aged three to 4.5 years, compared to their peers fed a habitual diet.

We have nurtured countless Filipino families as a pioneer in young child nutrition. Our growing-up milk products, from Bonakid Pre-School 3+, to Promil 3+, to Wyeth Ascenda Kid, aim to meet developmental needs for different age brackets, namely physical growth, brain development, catch-up growth, and strengthening immunity. We champion maternal nutrition with Bonina, a proudly Filipino-made maternal milk supplement formulated with immunity, growth, and maternal support nutrients for the evolving nutritional needs of pregnant mothers.

Even as we look back at more than 100 years, we look forward to nourishing healthier tomorrows, to upholding a legacy of leadership in nutrition for Filipino children. Hand in hand with our products, we seek to provide solutions and useful resources, like the Wyeth Nutrition Science Center for healthcare professionals and ParenTeam for parents, which respectively help them gain awareness and understanding of proper nutrition and its substantial results, specific to overall child growth and development.

Simultaneously, we are proactively helping to shape a cleaner, more livable planet for children through our sustainability initiatives. In our program to reduce plastic pollution, first, we are continuously reducing our plastic use. Second, we make product packaging designed for recycling by using mono-material plastic. Third, we collect volumes of plastic waste equivalent to the amounts of plastic in our packaging. Among our efforts to reduce climate change from global warming, the Wyeth products that are locally made are produced in factories run by 100% renewable electricity, which does not generate greenhouse gases.

Taking part in raising generations of healthy and happy Filipino children through proper nutrition, we need to build synergies with parents as they raise and guide them, with the support of nurturing communities. So that in the face of malnutrition concerns, children can thrive and become the best and most productive versions of themselves.

About the Author: Arlene Tan-Bantoto is the general manager at Wyeth Nutrition. 

Editor's Note: This content for Wyeth Nutrition. is not covered by Philstar.com's editorial guidelines.