DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero delivers her welcome message during the National Children’s Month kick-off ceremony in Cebu City. (PIA7)
“Have we done all appropriate efforts so that our children will be nourished, healthy, and sheltered?’
This was the question asked by Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero in her message during the kick-off ceremony of the National Children’s Month in Cebu City.
Lucero said a child can barely survive if they are not well-provided with proper nutrition, good health, and decent shelter.
It is often said that children are the hope for a better future. However, due to financial challenges, parents these days are struggling to ensure their children are in good health.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has earlier reported that poverty deprives many Filipino families access to nutritious food.
Stunting
Data from NNC on children’s health in Central Visayas shows a high stunting rate or chronic nutritional deficiency among children in the region.
There are at least 4 out of 10 children under the age of 5 who suffer from stunted growth in Region 7.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as low height compared to the child’s health, which is a result of recurring undernutrition or frequent instances of not eating nutritious food.
This is often associated with poverty and maternal health and nutrition.
NNC is advocating for a holistic approach to address malnutrition by ensuring the health of a child the moment life begins.
Child Development Worker (CDW) Lorena Rosalejos said that in her line of work, she has observed that parents are complacent on the kind of food they allow their children to eat, especially during snack time which often consists of junk food.
When she brings this to the parents’ attention, Rosalejos said their common response is “Mao ra man gyud madali-dali (It’s the easiest to buy from the stores).”
Healthy snacks are not usually sold in the sari-sari stores or mini-groceries. The ones that are available are often likely to be expensive, way beyond the budget of the parents.
Children from Riva Ridge Day Care prepping for their dance presentation.
Balanced meals on a budget
Jessiel May Beltran, a 38-year-old mother of two boys and a girl, said that she tries to provide healthy meals for her children as she herself is health conscious.
Beltran is a fulltime mother in a single-income household. Her husband is the only one working as Beltran had to quit her job at a pawnshop after she contracted Bell’s Palsy, a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
Although she said her husband has a good income, she admits it is still a challenge choosing healthy meals and snacks for her family, and encouraging her children’s interest in eating healthy.
Beltran understands that having balanced meals is essential in one’s health, especially for the children’s growth. When doing her groceries, Beltran buys fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat to ensure she can provide balanced meals for her family. Fortunately, she said her children are not picky with food.
She finds ways to keep her children interested in healthy food. She cooks vegetables the way her children likes it, which is “ginisa” or sauteed. She also includes vegetables in their soup.
Beltran also introduced her children to dried vegetables, as children are fond of something new for their snacks. In her research, she has discovered that dried vegetables can also offer the same nutritional benefits as the fresh ones.
However, Beltran said this can be costly so she only offers this to her children once in a while, and ensure that they do not develop an aversion to vegetables.
Beltran said each parent has different strategies in ensuring their children remain safe and healthy. “Dili lang mi magpareho sa ubang ginikanan kay lahi-lahi man mi og lifestyle (We don’t do the same things because we differ in our lifestyle),” Beltran said.
Jessiel May Beltran, a mother of three kids, said she tries to provide healthy meals for her children. (PIA7)
Rosalejos reminded parents that good nutrition alone is not enough to meet the needs of their children’s health.
“Kinahanglan usab na makapahuway ug matulog og sayo ang mga bata (It is also important for children to rest and sleep early),” she said.
Regular vaccination
Aside from healthy food, regular vaccination is also important for children’s health.
“We should all know that not all children are properly vaccinated according to the kind of vaccine and its schedule to prevent them from getting sick,” said Lucero.
The celebration of National Children’s Month (NCM) is seen as a venue to promote evidence-based inclusive health care and nutrition services and intervention for children.
Through the NCM celebration, parents will have the opportunity to learn the right information on children’s health and avoid health misinformation and disinformation.
To encourage parents to develop a health-seeking behavior, one of DSWD’s prerequisites for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries is to require their children to undergo regular physical examination in their respective health centers. (JAT/PIA 7)
