Inter-agency works to address malnutrition
ROXAS CITY – An inter-agency collaboration in Capiz has been working to address the malnutrition problem, particularly among school children.
The team of the Sixth Country Programme for Children’s Communication Sector is composed of representatives from the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Health Office and the Philippine Information Agency in Capiz.
According Planning and Development Coordinator Antonio Asis, who is also the CPC 6 coordinator in the province, information and education activities to reach more parents and other stakeholders in the barangays are very important.
He said that the malnutrition problem especially among children has been deep-rooted not only on poverty but also on the behavior and lack of knowledge.
Part of the nutrition education campaign of the team is the holding of meetings with the parents and teachers association with the barangay officials and barangay health workers.
Nutrition education activities in five disparity barangays for United Nations Children’s Fund program implementation in Capiz, namely Aglalana in Dumarao, Bun-od and San Antonio in Cuartero, Balaring in Ivisan, and Quinayoya in Dao were already done.
Earlier, the said barangays had also made its respective Barangay Nutrition Action Plan to address the problem of malnutrition in the community by implementing various programs.
Nutrition and hunger mitigation programs are among the top programs of the Arroyo administration.
Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in Lanao del Sur to witness the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the National Nutrition Council and the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindaoa.
President Arroyo stressed that the agreement ensures that government’s proper nutrition program (PNG) aimed at alleviating malnutrition and hunger, will be sustainably carried out to the smallest political level which is the barangay. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)
