Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Leoncio Abiera, in a meeting, underscored the important role of the local government officials both in the municipal and barangay levels in implementing the programs to ensure that the concerns on nutrition, health, and sanitation programs of the locality are given priority.
Nutritionist-dietitian Jocelyn Morano of the Antique Provincial Health Office expressed the need for local officials to give priority to nutrition programs, citing
the result of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute- Department of Science and Technology that Antique ranked No. 2 in the Visayas Region with 39.8 percent prevalence rate of stunted children in 2019 survey.
The FNRI-DOST result showed that out of 100 children with age 0-5 years old, 40 are stunted or their height is below the standard for their age.
Morano emphasized that the consequences of malnutrition among children, particularly 0-2 years old, are irreversible and can affect their health and other psychosocial well-being.
She also noted that food insecurity in poor families is one of the reasons for stunted children as stated in the findings of the survey.
The MELLPI Pro evaluation is ongoing in all municipalities of the province, however, there are towns that opted to conduct mentorship and coaching sessions with the PNC members instead of participating in the evaluation due to lack of documents and nutrition in charge in their localities.
The PNC team also reiterated the call to all local officials to designate the local nutrition action officers in every municipality so that the nutrition programs will be implemented to the fullest.
The evaluation also covered the search for the Provincial Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar and Top 3 Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Action Officer. (JBG/PSM/PIA-Antique)
