The City Government of Davao, through the City Health Office’s (CHO) Nutrition Division, has strengthened its nutrition campaign for all ages within the barangay level.
Beth Banzon, Head of the CHO’s Nutrition Division, said during the ISpeak Media Forum on Thursday that they are strengthening the reorganization of the Barangay Nutrition Committee to help implement the nutrition-related programs of the city.
The Nutrition Division continues to urge all sectors in the community, especially the members of the family, to practice proper diet with healthy meals and physical activity.
Banzon said that during the celebration of the Nutrition Month, their goal to reduce the cases of child stunting and wasting, as well as to address the triple burden problem of malnutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency.
The CHO’s Nutrition Division distributes Vitamin A to children 1 year to 59 months old to help prevent diseases like night blindness caused by Vitamin A deficiency.
Banzon added that their office found that 6.38 percent of children in the city are suffering from stunting and severe stunting, while 0.61 percent are suffering from wasting and severe wasting.
To address this issue, the Nutrition Division has target districts wherein it will further intensify not only its information drive on nutrition but also efforts in providing programs to reduce the number of these cases.
Banzon said majority of these barangays are located in districts within the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) like Paquibato and Marilog Districts.
The Nutrition Division also calls on all stakeholders and to every Dabawenyo to avail of the free health services of the city through the CHO to ensure that their health concerns and status are being catered to.
Banzon also urged pregnant women to have prenatal check-ups to ensure that they and their babies are healthy.
“Didto man gud na magsugod sa pagbuntis, mao na’ng kailangan gyud nga pakusgan gyud ang kampanya nga every pregnant woman should avail herself our maternal services,” she said.
The CHO’s Nutrition Division is inviting Dabawenyos to the culmination of the Nutrition Month at the Abreeza Mall on July 30. CIO
