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Make hunger and nutrition an election issue

Fritzie Rodriguez

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Make hunger and nutrition an election issue
The National Nutrition Council advises the public to look out for candidates who include food and nutrition security in their agenda

MANILA, Philippines –  Nutrition and hunger should be an election issue come 2016, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) said on Tuesday, November 3.

“It’s quite slow. Hunger is a big problem, but the government’s efforts are there,” Malou Enteria of the NNC commented on the country’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of fighting hunger.

“All sectors must help each other,” Enteria told Rappler on the sidelines of NNC’s conference for district and city nutrition program coordinators. Local governments; education, health, and budget sectors; among other government agencies should act together, Enteria said.

Countries all over the world are expected to halve the number of its citizens experiencing hunger as the MDGs expire this year. The Philippines, however, is behind its targets, the National Statistical Coordination Board reported. 

Prevalence of underweight children under 5 years old

(Source: NSCB)

1992 2015 target 2013
26.5% 13.3% 19.9%

Percent of household with per capita energy less than 100% adequacy

1993 2015 target 2013
74.2% 37.1% 65.2%

But it does not mean the Philippines lacks in effort; it has fared well with lowering the proportion of those below the national food threshold, with a 10.4% rating in 2012, quite close to its 2015 target of 8.8%. 

From 2015 to 2030, the world will once again attempt to address major problems through the Sustainable Development Goals, which also include hunger and nutrition among its priorities.

This time, the Philippines could perform better, advocates hope. But only if the country’s leaders allot adequate attention, action, and funding.

Support women, babies

For this year’s conference, the NNC chose the theme, “Conquer malnutrition! Start with the first 1,000 days” to stress the importance of good nutrition as early as pregnancy.

The first two years of a child’s life is a “window of opportunity to improve the health of Filipino children,” said NNC executive director and health assistant secretary Bernedita Flores. Poor nutrition during this period can result in stunting or being too short for one’s age, affecting not only physical, but also mental and behavioral development.

All these may have lasting impacts until adulthood. (READ: Learning on an empty stomach)

In fact, the Philippines is the 9th country in the world with the most number of stunted children, Unicef documented. The prevalence of malnourished children has also remained virtually unchanged in the past 5 years, the latest survey from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute revealed.

Prevalence of underweight children aged 0-5
2008 2013
20.7% 19.9%
Prevalence of underweight children aged 0-5
2008 2013
32.3% 30.3%

To address such issues, Flores urged local governments to implement their own nutrition programs in line with the national nutrition agenda. She also criticized local governments that do not update their action plans.

“Every month should be like nutrition month,” Flores said, adding that nutrition interventions should be funded. If funding is insufficient, the NNC suggested making the most out of what is available.

Instead of merely focusing on school feeding programs, Flores suggested addressing the root of the problem – unhealthy babies and mothers. “Who among your local governments have interventions feeding pregnant women?” she asked. (READ: Hungry and pregnant in the PH)

She advised local governments to provide micronutrient supplementation not only to pregnant women, but also to adolescent girls and teenage moms.

To protect both mother and baby, Flores urged local governments to support the Milk Code, a law promoting breastfeeding. In the Milk Code, donation of formula milk in times of disasters is banned. Why? Because clean water might be problematic in evacuation centers, and exclusive breastfeeding is also recommended for babies up to 6 months.

Flores likewise pushed for employers to establish lactation stations for working mothers. The NNC hopes that this, too, can be done in public areas such as markets, public transport stops, and for those in the informal sector without any offices.

The Senate recently approved extending paid maternity leave from 60 to 100 days. The NNC lauded this move and hopes that it will be implemented once consolidated by both Congress and Senate.

Steps forward

CHILDREN. Prevalence of child malnutrition in the Philippines has remained virtually unchanged in the past 5 years. File photo by Fritzie Rodriguez/Rappler

Laws are a powerful thing, advocates say, but only if they are properly implemented.

To move forward, Luz Tagunicar of the Department of Health’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau suggested the following legislations, either national, local, or within schools:

  • Restricting marketing of unhealthy food to children, especially in schools
  • Taxation of sugar sweetened beverages and soft drinks
  • Subsidies for fruits and vegetables
  • Tobacco ban in schools, workplaces, and communities; cigarette packaging to contain graphic warnings
  • Healtier food options in workplaces
  • Mandatory nutrition labelling and appropriate food price reductions
  • Encouraging regular exercise by having more physical education in schools; providing gym facilities, stand desks, and exercise routines at workplaces; and building more community parks, sidewalks, and bike lanes

These days, according to Tagunicar, education and awareness are not enough. There needs to be concrete interventions to create better environments and behaviors among consumers. – Rappler.com

Does your candidate of choice support the fight against hunger and poor nutrition? Let us know what your local government is doing. Join the #HungerProject!

 

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