Malnutrition rate in Central Visayas declines

Local

FEWER children in Central Visayas are suffering from malnutrition, a sign that efforts to combat the issue are making an impact.

According to the latest data from the National Nutrition Council-Central Visayas (NNC-7), the region saw a decline in malnutrition rates in 2024.

The results of the 2024 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus, an annual assessment of children aged 0-59 months, showed improvements in stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight cases.

Stunting, a measure of long-term malnutrition, dropped from 7.2 percent (47,842 children) in 2023 to 6.7 percent (38,080 children) in 2024.

Cases of wasting, an indicator of acute malnutrition, declined slightly from 1.4 percent (9,473 children) to 1.3 percent (7,118 children).

The percentage of underweight children fell from 3.2 percent (21,481 children) to 3.0 percent (17,229 children), while overweight cases decreased from 2.11 percent (13,970 children) to 2.0 percent (11,491 children).

The OPT Plus initiative is carried out by rural health midwives, barangay nutrition scholars, barangay health workers, and other local nutrition committee members.

Using anthropometric measurements based on World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, they assess the nutritional status of children in communities.

During the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) meeting on February 21, NNC 7 Director Parolita Mission said government interventions and partnerships with local government units had contributed to the decline in malnutrition rates.

She noted that these efforts had resulted in gradual but meaningful improvements in the region’s nutritional status.

The NNC 7 described the results as a "slow but steady improvement" in child nutrition, emphasizing that the progress reflects the effectiveness of the region’s nutrition program management.

Department of Health Central Visayas Director and RNC Chairman Jaime Bernadas stressed the need to sustain these efforts by focusing on nutrition education and behavioral changes.

He said local nutrition committees must ensure long-term strategies remain in place to prevent malnutrition rates from plateauing and to secure a healthier future for children in Central Visayas.(MyTVCebu)