House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo First District Representative Janette Garin said that in order to end malnutrition the government must focus on providing a long-term solution.

“Malnutrition needs a long-term solution,” Garin said in an interview with ONE News on Friday, adding that problems on malnutrition are interrelated to safe water provision.

“Another problem is the availability of safe water because this has contributed a lot to many patients [as there are children who experience diarrhea due to drinking of unsafe water,” the lawmaker added.

Garin also called to provide support to rural areas on backyard farming to ensure that the children will have nutritious food available.

Meanwhile, former health secretary said one of the biggest problems in relation to malnutrition stemmed from the lack of nutrition of pregnant women as nutrition of children starts from conception.

According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), every day, 95 children in the Philippines die from malnutrition and twenty-seven out of 1,000 Filipino children do not get past their fifth birthday.

Knowledge gained from nutrition-related trainings and seminars must have actual implementation as it would have positive impact in addressing the problems of malnutrition, Garin said.

“Solving malnutrition is not just a government’s problem but it should be a collaboration between our constituents. DOH should not stop in [having partnership or agreement] with UNICEF. The biggest problem that they have is the actual implementation on the grounds,” Garin said.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) and UNICEF have inked partnership to strengthen health in the country to address malnutrition.

By Junex Doronio

CONCERNED THAT ONE OF EVERY THREE FILIPINO children are undernourished, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has urged local government units (LGUs) to focus on the health and nutrition of children.

Abalos on Sunday made the call as he noted that November marks the 31st National Children’s Month (NCM).

“Dapat nating tutukan ang nutrisyon. Isa sa bawat tatlong Pilipinong bata ay undernourished, apektado ang kanilang brain development. Once na apektado ang utak ng bata sa first 1,000 days, mahihirapan na silang makabawi, apektado ang pag-aaral ng bata. Kaya ito ay pagtulungan natin,” Abalos said in a statement.

Abalos in his DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-152, directed the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay LGUs to spearhead and support various activities aligned with the month-long NCM celebration with the theme “Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life for All.”

Abalos said the recommended weekly activities shall be anchored on survival rights for the first week, developmental rights for the second week, participation rights and National Play Advocacy Week in the third week, and protection rights week or juvenile justice and welfare consciousness week in the fourth week.

On the issue of “bloodless anti-drug war” and recognizing the pivotal role of children and youth in the government’s priority campaign against illegal drugs, Abalos also encouraged the youth to be active partners for the Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan (BIDA) holistic advocacy campaign.

Meanwhile, during the “DILG sa DZRH” radio TV program, Abalos asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary and Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director Angelo M. Tapales to work with the DILG in addressing the perennial problem of child beggars on the city streets, especially with the upcoming Christmas season.

(ai/mnm)