ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — The Provincial Health Office (PHO), Department of Health (DOH) Capiz, and Ivisan Rural Health Unit (RHU) have come together to rescue a severely malnourished (SAM) child in Brgy. San Agustin in Ivisan town.
PHO District Nutrition Program Coordinator Josephine Moises said that the severely malnourished child had not been immediately identified because the mother did not give birth at a health center or hospital, but at home.
Moises also added that the child is nearly years old, but still cannot stand and walk due to severe malnutrition.
“Hindi gid makalakat ang bata kay kulang gid ya ang iya weight kag mostly sa mga malnourished children isa ina sa mga effect ang hindi maka-walk,” she said..
(The child cannot walk because she is underweight, and for most malnourished children, one of the effects is the inability to walk.)
As part of the PHO’s intervention, Moises said the child is now under the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnourished (PINAM) program.
“Isa sa mga protocol sang PINAM program is i-assess ang bata kung may mga complications. Wala man siya sang other health complications, manubo lang gid ang iya weight kay kulang siya sa pagkaon,” Moises said as she also shared that the Ivisan Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) designate Amphyphine Bautista is closely monitoring the child.
(One of the protocols of the PINAM program is to assess the child for any complications. The child has no other health complications, but her weight was significantly low due to lack of food.)
Since the child was already enrolled in the PINAM program, PHO Health Officer I and Provincial Nutrition Officer Dr. Leah Del Rosario, during her visit with the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC), identified the need to provide the child with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to supply essential nutrients and calories.
Moreover, Bautista shared that the mother has three children aged five and below, and is now seven months pregnant.
The Ivisan RHU and Brgy. San Agustin Barangay Health Workers and officials will closely monitor the mother to ensure her pregnancy is safe.
The Brgy. San Agustin chieftain promised to the PHO and PNC members that they would help the family as they are also part of the feeding program of the elementary school and the daycare center. (AGP/PLF/PIA Capiz)
