Manila – A report released by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) “Save the Children” on Monday in Manila said more than 3.6 million children were stunted in the Philippines due to malnutrition.
The report explained that among its neighboring countries in Southeast Asian region, only the Philippines recorded significant level of wasted children.
It said moderate or severe wasting in the Philippines was estimated at 8 per cent in 2013 and this translated to over 769,000 children.
Dr Amado Parawan, Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition Advisor, said the report showed that one in three Filipino children, suffered from stunted growth, an indicator of chronic malnutrition.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He noted that in spite of progress in reducing child deaths, slow and unequal progress in curbing child malnutrition and stunting rates was likely to undermine efforts to reduce poverty and stall economic growth.
Parawan said the assumption had always been that Filipinos were just genetically short, the report had revealed generations of stunted and malnourished children.
“Because ‘shortness’ is considered a racial trait, it is not seen as a serious concern.
“Stunting is more than just being short, it impacts children’s future because it hinders physical and mental growth,” he said.
Parawan, therefore, called on the Philippines government, civil society, donors and the public to tackle the country’s malnutrition crisis before it get out of control. (dpa/NAN)