Malnu No More!

Malnutrition is one of the prioritized problems in the community. In 2015, there were 30 malnourished children weighed and measure ranging from severely underweight to overweight. The group prioritized this problem from its salient features based from Maglaya scoring and based from the people who perceived it as a health problem and health threat.

Since 2016, the group came up with different strategies and activities to help solve the continuing problem in malnutrition. The group has informed the barangay council, BNS, BHW, NDP, Midwife and MHO about the numbers of malnutrition and strategies involved in solving the problems. Numerous strategies such as the health teachings among primary caregivers regarding proper nutrition and food handling. The group also collaborated with the Barangay Nutrition Council to help combat malnutrition. Also, with adoption of Malnutrition Treatment Hub from the research of Dr. Recinto which was started last January 2018. The group started a 12-day milk and egg feeding with 9 underweight enrolled. Nine out of nine of the underweight children enrolled increased their weight and among them, 4 achieved normal weight for age. The group also adopted Dr. So’s peanut-based RUTF as a strategy to address malnutrition. It was started last December 2018 with 5 underweight enrolled. It is an 8-week feeding of a peanut-based RUTF fortified with malunggay. All the enrolled underweight have achieved normal weight for age after the feeding.

Backyard gardening is one of the important strategies given by the nutrition council. A communal garden was introduced in collaboration with 4Ps members. The group named the garden as Meet Your Garden. A scheme was made for the garden, harvesting and maintenance of the garden.

As part of the strategies and continuous campaign to combat malnutrition, the group decided to have a “KaluSHOWgan”. The KaluSHOWgan is not just a cooking show, it also served as an avenue to gather primary caregivers for the group to impart knowledge about the proper nutrition, food handling and affordable recipes that they can use at home. A week-long celebration of Kalushowgan was also conducted at the Bacuyong Elementary School. A video presentation on importance of proper nutrition and importance proper hand washing and tooth brushing were given to the kindergarten pupils and lectures on proper nutrition was given other year level. Poster making contest and Quiz bee were conducted last February 18-22, 2019.

The fight against malnutrition is a long and continuous journey. Knowledge is important in addressing the this. Community’s participation is important to fully achieve the goal on nutrition.