Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Save the Children, an international organization that focuses on children’s issues, said on Thursday (September 3) that one in three Filipino children suffers from stunted growth — an indicator of chronic malnutrition.
The report of Save The Children suggested that shortness is not a genetic trait of Filipinos; it could be due to generations of stunted children who are too small for their age because of malnutrition.
The report also stated that malnutrition impacts a child’s future by hindering his/her physical and mental growth.
The facts from the report indicate that the first 1000 days of a child’s life is crucial in preventing stunted growth.
Its campaign against malnutrition called “Lahat Dapat” or no child left behind was also launched. This includes promoting exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, vitamin a and iron supplementation, treatment of acute malnutrition, and maternal nutrition.
Save The Children Philippines’ country director Ned Olney said that as the country’s economy is continuing to boom, child nutrition should not be left behind.
“We have health policies, but we also need to get more families to enjoy the economic progress that the country is enjoying at large,” he said.
