Nutrition improved 

among Boholanos 

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 26 (PIA)—There is a noted improvement in the nutritional situation of Boholano kids from zero to 60 months, according to the Provincial Nutrition Council here. 

And if things turn out right as the trend continues, it might not be long before Bohol could significantly lessen its malnutrition rate, one it had been addressing for some time already. 

According to PNC nutritionists who are tracking the malnutrition state among Bohol kids, there is a noted improvement in underweight prevalence in the last three years. 

Nutritionist Ardin Abrea reported during the recent Kapihan sa PIA that they noted a slight decrease in underweight children relative to their ages, in the last three years. 

In 2015 for example, nutritionists tracking the effects of government feeding programs and other interventions, noted a 4.61 percent underweight prevalence or about 5 in every 100 kids zero to sixty months old. 

By 2016, the underweight prevalence moved further down to 4.23 % and by 2017, it went further down to 3.9 %of all kids in the mentioned age group. 

As to height to weight ratio, Honey Lyn Danila bared that in 2015, 3.57% of kids from day old to 30 weeks old do not come up to the desired height as to their normal age. 

In 2017, lesser kids display disparity in height to weight because the nutritional statisticians see a decrease as only 3% of the kids that age do not have the right height to weight proportions. 

And while stunted growth is a pervasive issue in the region, in Bohol the prevalence rate of stunted growth in kids in 2015 is 14.59%. 

The number shrunk to 12.96% in 2016, Danila continued. 

By 2017 however, the figure they shared was 12.7% of those between 0 months to 30 months who are showing stunted growth. 

Simply said, in every 100 kids aged 1-3 years, about 13 of these are short for their age. 

The problem of stunted growth becomes a big problem, according to Josephus Torrefranca, because this problem’s solution should have been provided during conception. 

He explained that the moment a sperm cell develops in a woman’s womb, if there are not enough nutrients, stunted growth is most likely to occur. 

How could have Bohol done it? 

Nutritionists claimed that the government folic acid fortification program has worked its way. 

The government has been making sure that the first 1000 days and up to two years old, an infant has to be directly supervised, and the way pregnant women and mothers are obliged to co to prenatal at health centers has made medical authorities help women properly prepare for child birth. 

“Our Barangay Health Workers go out to seek for these pregnant women, find them and bring them to the health centers for us to be able to respond to their challenges in nutrition,” Torrefranca said. 

The government also has Nurses Deployment Program, where nurses go to communities to educate the young and old go with the right nutrition. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

The conditions are improving and if Boholanos continue to take part in helping address the gaps in nutrition, malnutrition and stunted growth might just be a thing of the past, sums up nutritionists during the Kapihan sa PIA in July. (PIA-7Bohol)