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Nutritional status of vulnerable age groups in Benguet improves

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (July 12) — The Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO) here concluded this week that the nutritional status of vulnerable age groups, pre-schoolers and school-aged children in Benguet province, has improved this year, compared to their nutritional status in 2003 and 2004.

In the weekly Kapihan sa Benguet, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Nita Villena said that the number of pre-school children having normal weight increased to 91.33%, while those having weight below normal is 7.67%. The age bracket of pre-school children ranges from zero to 6 years of age.

The percentage of school children having normal weight likewise increased, from 92.31% at the start of 2004, to 94.42% at present. The percentage of school-aged children having weight below normal decreased from 6.71% at the start of 2004, to 4.11% at present. School children are those belonging to grades I to VI.

Villena said that this development could be attributed to the intervention of municipal governments in the implementation of comprehensive nutrition programs, and the intensive information and education campaign in each municipality.

Meanwhile, the most number of overweight school-aged children was recorded at 222 individuals in provincial capital La Trinidad. Villena explained that this is relative to the population of vulnerable age groups in the province’s 13 towns, where La Trinidad is the most populated.

As to the leading causes of malnutrition in the province, Villena said that children’s eating habits would be the primary factor, followed by parents’ discipline in feeding their children, and finally, food preparation techniques in the home.

La Trinidad Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Anna Otaot added that media has significantly influenced a child’s eating habits.

“In this age where televisions have become babysitters, children’s eating habits have definitely been influenced,” she said.

College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET) Dean Dr. Corazon Somyden of Benguet State University (BSU) commented that parents’ upbringing, which now consists of fast food and instant foods, affect the nutritional status of children.

“The values in food selection and preparation seem to have eroded,” she said.

Atok Mayor Concepcion Balao and encouraged parents to practice using native crops, such as kamote or sweet potato, in the family diet to do away with children’s junkfood consumption.

Meanwhile, Board Member Fernando Aritao, who heads the Committee on Health and Nutrition, named Tuba, Atok, and La Trinidad recipients of the Green Banner Award, respectively, for this year. This award is given to the top three towns with the most significant developments in the nutritional status of its constituents.

Aritao added that for this year, the provincial government’s aim in nutrition is to eradicate malnutrition among vulnerable age groups. The press conference is part of the province’s celebration of Nutrition Month. # AT Bengwayan for NORDIS

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