Apayao PLGU bolsters nutrition convergence program to combat high rate of malnutrition

Apayao, Philippines - Apayao Provincial Local Government Unit has launched a comprehensive convergence program that gathered various offices to strengthen nutrition programs province-wide and combat the high rate of malnutrition.

Based on the updated data provided by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), nutrition indicators for Stunting, Wasting, Underweight, and Obesity since 2024 have reached 67.41% or 861 individuals, 7.62% or 104 individuals, 30.15% or 393 individuals, and 21.9% or 272 individuals, respectively.

Out of the profiled 348 malnourished in Indigenous groups, 44 were members of the Agta Tribe.

Among the 326 4Ps beneficiaries, 125 of them were recorded as malnourished. While 141 were reported from those 307 living in the GIDA. There were also 157 children of the 899 teenage parents suffering from malnutrition, whose main income comes from farming/fishing.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban said a convergence program was organized and started this year to address nutritional deficiency concerns.

These offices gathered to contribute to the decrease in the recorded number of malnutrition comprised the following: the PHO,DOH, NNC which allotted P1,750,000 million for the implementation of Health promotion, Micronutrient Supplementation, Deworming, Salt Iodization, and Capacity Building programs; the PSWDO which appropriated P1,500,000 million for Feeding programs and capacity building; the OAS with P500,000 for livelihood programs; the PVET with P1,250,000 million for livelihood initiatives; the DepEd participating for health promotion and deworming; the PGO primarily under ASENG which focused on livelihood programs, incentive and rewards, and policy formulation; the ATC, PPDO and DOST with respective livelihood programs; and Technical assistance from the Nutritionist and Dietician.

Said initiatives are aligned with Apayao leaders Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. and Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang’s commitment to uplift the lives of the people in Apayao through the provision of nutrition programs and quality health services.