By Anna Valmero
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL—A month after typhoon Sendong hit northern Mindanao, child malnutrition rates increased by 50 percent in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
Some 207 children were found to be acutely malnourished in the Sendong-hit communities, according to a report by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
“Malnutrition is an especially serious concern for Mindanao, where a significant number of children are already undernourished. Sendong dealt an additional blow to these children’s vulnerable health,” said Dr. Abdul Alim, UNICEF Philippines’ Representative.
Acute malnutrition in children is displayed by several indicators including being underweight for height and when muscles and fat tissue “waste” away.
A child with acute malnutrition has a 30 percent chance of dying if it is left untreated. Episodes of wasting have a short duration in contrast to stunting, most commonly displayed as low height for age, explained Alim.
The compromised food supply to displaced families is a contributing factor to the sharp rise in malnutrition rates, said the UNICEF official.
For infants, the widespread donations of powdered milk decreased the number of breastfeeding mothers.
Breast milk has antibodies to help protect babies from infection so the lack of exclusive breastfeeding equates to increased risks of diarrhea, said Alim.
UNICEF gave $400,000 worth of nutrition supplies to 4,500 children under five years old and breastfeeding counseling and nutrition screening to some 2,000 pregnant and lactating women.
Still, the needs are great and UNICEF appeals for donors to send additional funds to cover supplies for the nutrition, sanitation, education and protection of the children in flood-hit areas.
Alim added that the process of recovery and rehabilitation of children and families affected by Sendong “will take many months.”
UNICEF also educated families on ways to prevent malnutrition and the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding.
Children who are moderately or severely malnourished are referred for treatment and monitored until they return to their target weight.
(Photo courtesy of UNICEF)
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