Group pushes exclusive breastfeeding vs malnutrition

MANILA, Philippines — International child welfare organization Save the Children Philippines has issued a call for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their newborn children to combat malnutrition, which continues to rise among infants and pre-schoolers in the country.

Albert Muyot, Save the Children Philippines chief executive officer, said child malnutrition is shown in the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

The survey, presented last June 24, also showed increasing prevalence of malnutrition and anemia among babies and toddlers.

Muyot, a former undersecretary at the Department of Education, said the nutrition survey serves as a wakeup call in time for Nutrition Month this July. 

“Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years old will provide critical nutrients and protection to infants against life threatening diseases and improve their immune system,” Muyot said.

He said community health and nutrition workers should intensify their campaign on breastfeeding, complementary feeding and proper nutrition among children of deprived families and marginalized communities.

Anemia cases among babies six to 11 months increased to 48.2 percent in 2018 from 40.5 percent in 2013, while anemia among toddlers aged one to two years has increased to 35.4 percent last year from 24.7 percent in 2013.

Stunting, a life threatening condition due to chronic undernutrition, remains high at 36.6 percent for children two years old in 2018, from 36.2 percent in 2013.

Malnutrition among preschoolers is also high, particularly among three-year olds at 33.8 percent in 2018 from 38.6 in 2013; and four-year olds at 30.2 percent last year from 36.8 in 2013.

Globally, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months prevents deaths of 1.3 million children below five years old every year.

Save the Children Philippines has been campaigning to eradicate malnutrition among children through maternal and child health and nutrition programs for children and pregnant and lactating mothers in deprived areas in the cities of Malabon, Navotas and Caloocan in Metro Manila as well as conflict affected areas in Mindanao.

Muyot urged local leaders to implement Republic Act 11148 or the First 1,000 Days law that ensures health and nutrition for children from conception up to two years.