Malnourished cases down in San Francisco, targets zero case

Friday 3rd of August 2012

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Aug 3 (PIA) -- Malnutrition went down by an average of nine percent in the municipality of San Francisco in the past three years, according to the record by the municipal nutrition office.

According to Malyn Bugawan, San Francisco municipal nutrition action officer, record shows that in 2009, malnutrition in San Francisco went down by 14 percent and has continued to decrease, by another 5.8 percent this year.

But according to Bugawan, although the reduction of malnourished children is remarkable, they are still aiming for a zero number of cases in San Francisco.

“One of our strategies in order to reach our goal of eradicating malnutrition in the municipality is to launch vegetable gardening in all elementary schools so that we can use our produce in our feeding program,” Bugawan said.

Bugawan also said that together with the municipal nutrition council, her office is taking steps to monitor that all school canteens must not sell junk foods to children, in line with the order of the Department of Education (DepEd) to ban the selling of junk foods to school canteens nationwide.

“The DepEd has issued Order No. 8, series of 2007 ordering that all school canteens must only sell nutritious foods, especially those rich in protein, like food derived from root crops, noodles and other foods made of rice and corn, and also fruits and vegetables,” Bugawan said.

Bugawan did not spare the role of teachers in schools in solving the malnutrition. Bugawan said teachers should always educate the children the value of good nutrition so that children will refrain from eating junk foods and instead take nutritious foods, fruits and vegetables.

In line with the culmination of the nutrition month celebration, various activities were undertaken in the municipality of San Francisco in order to enhance the children’s knowledge about good nutrition. Among the activities that highlighted the celebration is a cooking contest participated by students and parents. There was also a fruit carving contest, “tula” and jingle singing competition, in the context of the nutrition month. (DMS/Alexis Cabardo, PIA-Caraga)