Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Pre-schoolers in 10 Cebu City barangays found highly malnourished

Cebu City (11 July) -- About 10 barangays in Cebu City located in coastal areas have a high prevalence rate of malnutrition among pre-schoolers last year, according to National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) regional coordinator Parolita Mission.

Mission identified some of the barangays as Ermita, Sawang-Calero, Pasil and Alaska

High population, poor environmental sanitation and high incidence of upper respiratory tract infections among schoolchildren that led to a rapid loss of weight are the factors attributed to the high malnutrition prevalence rate, according to Mission.

Last year, Cebu City ranked fourth among cities regionwide in the high malnutrition prevalence rate among the pre-school age population with 7.87 percent, Mission declared.

Bais City in Oriental Negros topped in the number of pre-school children that are malnourished with 14.79 percent while Talisay City followed with 12.19 percent, and the fourth placer was Kanlaon City in Oriental Negros with 11.9 percent, this is learned.

The Cebu City Nutrition Council in response to the problem increased its micronutrient supplementation to targeted beneficiaries particularly children on iron, Vit. A and iodine. It also implemented a deworming program as parasitism among schoolchildren became a problem.

Mission bared hunger is the root cause of malnutrition while incidence of hunger is basically attributed to poverty. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)

No comments: