Health & Nutrition | Battling malnutrition one child at a time

By Mong Jimenez, Field Communications Specialist

Anabelle could still remember her childhood years when she and her family would survive on root crops and corn rice for days. She grew up without learning the importance of eating a balanced meal. With her family’s hand-to-mouth lifestyle, it was the least of their priorities.

She regretted not learning how to prepare nutrition-packed meals. At the age of 27, she already has two children who were both born with low nutrition. Her children had suffered health problems such as respiratory illnesses and being underweight. Their trips to the hospital became regular.

The mother would spend an average of more than their P250 per day because of her children’s medical emergencies. It worried her and her husband especially when Jomar, their eldest son, was about to enter pre-school.

Not long ago, Anabelle finally found an antidote to rehabilitate her two boys. She enrolled her sons to World Vision’s Pinoy Nutrition Hub (PNH), a rehabilitation program that aims to reduce malnutrition through nutritious feeding and community participation.

The family resides in a community where World Vision implements its development work. Malnutrition is one issue that was identified by the community. One village is recorded to have more than 50 malnourished children. Because of this, the organization introduced the PNH approach.

The PNH session Anabelle and her sons started last April 2017 and lasted for 12 days. Anabelle learned how to prepare balanced meals to ensure sustainability of feeding even after the end of the sessions.

“Cooking nutritious meals is new to me but I am committed to learn and apply it in our home for my children,” Anabelle expressed. “A healthy body is the least that I can provide to them.”

Families enrolled in PNH also received vegetable seedlings from the organization. They used it to grow a garden in their backyard where they can source fresh vegetables and crops. Anabelle’s vegetable garden is an indication that the nutrition feeding is being sustained after the PNH sessions.

Jomar, 5 years old, and his little brother, Jerome, 2 years old, are now enjoying normal weight. The brothers have not been sick and have not visited the hospital again after they completed the PNH program. World Vision/March 1, 2018

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.