Cordi: One of lowest number of malnourished nationwide

Due to NNC endeavors 

By Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY-- The Cordillera compared to other regions in the country has one of lowest number of malnourished or undernourished persons, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Cordillera bared.

      Regional Nutrition program coordinator Rita Papey said during a press orientation on observance of the 42nd National Nutrition Month that the region has only five percent chronically energy deficient adults compared to the 16% from national data.

She added the number of energy deficient among the children is also low.

Papey however said they noted the provinces of Abra and Apayao having the most number of undernourished children compared to the other provinces and two cities of the region.

She said factors that may have contributed to such were determination or perseverance of nutrition workers in said areas and seriousness of implementation of nutrition programs by the local government units and other concerned agencies in addressing this concern.

She noted the region is one of regions which is in the top list when it comes to the prevalence of stunting.

She said Cordillera has a 36.7 [ercent prevalence even higher than that of the Philippines as a whole which is 33.4 % based on 2015 data results from the national nutrition survey.

The nutrition officer explained that the data on malnourishment is based on the protein efficiency nourishment under international standards. "What we are measuring before is the weight versus the age of the person.

She added data on Cordillera having the lowest number of malnourished shows how the region was sufficiently addressing the problem.

She said the new nourishment issue now is stunting which she said is actually a form of malnourishment.

She said they measure stunting based on the height of the child versus his weight and age.

Papey said that still, addressing such nutrition issues and proper observance of nourishment were still the best strategies.

She added observance of Nutrition Month should not only be done in the month of July but the whole year.