Koronadal City— After its launching in February, Responsableng Pag-Sagop kag Pag-Tatap sa Nutrisyon (RST sa Nutrisyon) identified 105 malnourished children in Barangay Laconon, Tboli, to protect them from unprecedented food and nutrition problem in South Cotabato.
Months later, among the identified beneficiaries, assigned Barangay Nutrition Scholars in the area submitted the nutrition status of 75 children. The report revealed that these kids’ nutritional condition has improved.
Earl Madres, Community Affairs Officer, said that based on the report, five of the identified severely malnourished kids achieved their normal weight because of the series of interventions provided in the program.
“The interventions include supplemental feeding and medical interventions for six-month,” Madres told the media during the Hinun-anon sa Kapitolyo.
The record said that 17 beneficiaries needed medical intervention.
Data showed that after months of intervention, there were no more severely underweight children.
RST sa Nutrisyon is a flagship program of the present administration that offers a menu of services mainly given to severely wasted and underweight preschoolers in South Cotabato. These services are clinical attention, nutrition intervention, and livelihood. The project is a multi-agency collaboration that involves the members of the Provincial Nutrition Committee, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
Angela Frugalidad, District Nutrition Program Coordinator, said malnutrition among preschool children declined in South Cotabato in the last three years.
The prevalence rate for severely malnourished is 1.91 percent in 2022, or 35 percent lower compared to 2021. Stunted children were at 3. 04% last year, lower than the number in 2020 at 6%.
South Cotabato did its best in combatting malnutrition in the past years. In the recently concluded Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony, the province received its green banner award, which signifies the province’s continuous efforts to bring down malnutrition. South Cotabato recorded the lowest malnutrition rate in the entire region.
“The project is expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of South Cotabato as we produce healthier children in the future,” Frugalidad added.
