For the last four years, the malnutrition rate among pre-school children age zero to 59 months old in Iloilo City has steadily declined, based on the results of the yearly conduct of Operation Timbang Plus (OPT).
Data from the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO)-Nutrition Program showed a continuous downward trend in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and overweight/obesity among the said age group from 2021 to 2024.
From 3 percent in 2021, stunting or low height for age continuously dropped to 2.8 percent in 2022; 2.6 percent in 2023, to 2 percent this year.
Wasting or low weight for age also declined from 1.3 percent in 2021; 1 percent in 2022; 0.9 percent in 2023; and 0.6 percent in 2024.
Likewise, the city recorded a decreasing rate of overweight or obesity, from 2.9 percent in 2021; 2.3 percent in 2022; 1.8 percent in 2023; and 1.4 percent in 2024.
According to CHO Nutritionist-Dietitian II Chlaerisse Montealto-Nieves, for the 2024 OPT conducted from January to March, they were able to cover 80 percent or 36, 084 of the targeted 45,081 population of preschoolers.
Specifically, results showed that 92.8 percent of the age group are normal in terms of their nutritional status while 533 are underweight, 227 are wasted, 717 are stunted and 504 are overweight or obese.
“This means that the nutritional status of our preschoolers is continuously improving. Based on our OTP conducted this year, only one-eighth of the total preschool children we weighed were malnourished,” said Nieves during the recent press conference in line with the celebration of the 50th Nutrition Month.
Nieves attributed this to the strengthened and relentless advocacy program and services of the city on nutrition.
“Since we started the implementation of our nutrition program, our campaign and advocacy on nutrition have not stopped,” Nieves added.
She cited, among others, their continuous services especially in giving out micronutrient supplementation and vitamins and promoting and advocating breastfeeding as one of the important sources of nutrients for children.
She also acknowledged the strong support extended by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to CHO and its nutrition program.
In fact, Nieves noted an increased budget for the city’s nutrition program.
Another landmark project they look forward to is the soon-to-be operational Uswag Nutrition Center, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology and Bombo Radyo Foundation Inc., wherein one of its components includes the establishment of a food production facility for complementary foods.
“We will make our own nutri-buns especially for at-risk pregnant women and rice-mongo blends for the kids,” Nieves noted.
The facility will also provide outpatient therapeutic care for malnourished kids in the city to improve their nutritional status, as well as a venue for trainings and seminars for barangay nutrition scholars, among others. (Iloilo City PIO)
