• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An amount of P10 million was extended by the provincial government of Negros Occidental to 20 barangays from Don Salvador Benedicto and Calatrava, for the purpose of addressing nutritional issues.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that each of the 20 barangays got P500,000 each to help them come up with a barangay-based nutrition program, as per guidance from the Negros Occidental Nutrition Alliance (NONA), Provincial Health Office and Provincial Planning and Development Office.
While the province manifested improvements in the nutritional status of children with ages zero to 59 months, based on the report of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Diaz noted that some local government units have still nutritional issues.
The PHO Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) is an annual weighing and height measurement of all preschool children being done in communities, to identify and locate the malnourished children, for referral to relevant nutrition and related services.
Its data is also used for local nutrition action planning, especially in quantifying the prevalence of wasted, stunted, underweight, overweight and obese children, who will be prioritized for interventions in the community.
Tumimbang reported a significant decrease in the prevalence of wasting, stunting and obesity, which he said manifested improvements in the nutritional status of children with ages zero to 59 months.
While some local government units are doing well, Diaz said there are five LGUs with nutritional issues, which he described as “cause for alarm.”
The PHO report identified Don Salvador Benedicto as having high prevalence of stunting in the municipal category, and San Carlos in the city category.
San Enrique also topped municipalities with high prevalence in wasting and obesity, and San Carlos again in the city category, the report added.
Diaz said the provincial government is now working closely with NONA to assist them in implementing nutrition programs in the 20 identified barangays.*
