BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Incidence of malnutrition in six provinces of Western Visayas dropped, the latest assessment of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed.
From 7.05 percent in 2012 and 7.59 percent in 2011, the prevalence of malnutrition among preschool children from zero to five years old went down to 6.38 in 2013.
Antique still topped the list of provinces with malnutrition (8.78 percent). Still, this was lower than its 9.49 percent registered in 2012.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 6 attributed this to poverty and bottle-feeding practices of mothers instead of exclusive breastfeeding.
Iloilo was second to Antique at 6.96 percent. There was a one percent drop. It posted 8.59 percent in 2012.
Negros Occidental came in third but with a decrease also from 7.09 percent in 2012 to 6.3 percent in 2013; Aklan, from 5.1 percent in 2012 to 4.95 percent in 2013; Guimaras, from 4.62 percent in 2012 to 4.56 percent; and Capiz, from 4.20 to 3.84 percent.
Meanwhile, Nona Tad-y, Regional Nutrition Program coordinator of NNC, said the reasons behind the improvement of malnutrition incidence in the region among provinces were the contributions and support of local government units in terms of programs on health, nutrition, education, and food production, among others.
She also cited the big improvements of health facilities that greatly contributed to the decline of malnutrition rate, as well as trainings and programs of the DOH on health protection, micronutrient supplementation, and distribution of supplements in the barangays./PN
