In Samar
TACLOBAN CITY– The municipal government of Villareal, Samar led by its mayor, Carlo Latorre throw its support to improve the nutrition conditions of the children, particularly in addressing the incidence of stunting growth.
The local officials, including the members of the nutrition council, attended an orientation to this effect on July 22, showcasing the Philippine multi-sectoral nutrition project.
Villareal is among the 70 towns in Leyte and Samar provinces which were identified in this World Bank-funded program to address the incidence of stunting growth among children.
The three-year project is designed to increase the utilization of a package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to curb malnutrition.
Among provinces in the region, Samar has the highest prevalence of stunting at 16.67 percent, followed by Eastern Samar (15.46 percent), Northern Samar (15.10 percent), and Leyte (14.99 percent).
At least 63,655 children under five years old in Eastern Visayas are stunted, according to the National Nutrition Council.
The first component of the project will provide support on the provision of support for primary health care services with a focus on social and behavior change communication, strengthening health and nutrition services systems.
Another component is the community-driven health and nutrition interventions to include increased access to and use of clean water, appropriate sanitation, and improved hygiene practices, access to early childhood care and development services, and increasing access of conditional cash transfer beneficiaries to nutrition programs and services according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office.
On June 22, 2022, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved an USD178.1 million loan to support the Philippine government’s efforts to combat malnutrition in 235 towns across the country.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
