In a bid to combat malnutrition within its host and neighboring communities, the Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) has allocated P700,000 for its feeding program this year.
According to CMC, this will also sustain the gains of the company’s feeding program for schoolchildren over the years.
Some 115 schoolchildren found to be undernourished benefited from CMC's 120-day supplemental feeding program.
Ranging from ages 0 to 12 years, the beneficiaries hail from Barangays Valencia, Boa, Legaspi and Sitio Maytubig.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition results in both short and long term irreversible effects such as stunted growth, cognitive development deficits, underweight and wasting.
It is estimated that malnutrition accounts for 54 percent of child mortality worldwide, or about 1 million children.
To ensure the effectiveness of its anti-malnutrition drive, CMC has been partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd), community leaders and parents to properly identify beneficiaries, as well as to measure and evaluate the over-all impact of the program.
CMC's malnutrition campaign starts with identification of beneficiaries and gathering of each recipient's health data, such as weight.
The children's weight are then monitored on weekly basis to determine improvement in their nutritional status.
With the help of the parents, health workers, and school teachers who manage the feeding activity, hot meals are served during class break or snack time in
the morning, and during lunch.
CMC community relations officers also provide complementary support system to ensure the program's success, such as teaching parents ways to provide affordable but nutritional meals at home.
Parents are also taught basic gardening to supplement the needs of the family and continue serving nutritious food on the table.
According to the latest data released by the Caraga National Nutrition Council (NNC XIII), malnourishment prevalence rate among schoolchildren in the five provinces in the region, including Dinagat Islands, has gone down in the last five years.
“CMC is proud to have actively contributed in this achievement in its own little way,” the company said.
Maria Cruz, mother of five year-old Jane, expressed gratitude to CMC for its feeding program saying that this really helped poor children to attain the proper nutrition.
“Malaking tulong itong feeding program ng CMC sa aking anak para magkaroon siya ng tamang nutrisyon at malusog na pangangatawan,” said Cruz.
Edwin Carlos, father of six year old Gina, also thanked CMC for the feeding program.
“Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, mahirap para sa amin na mabigyan ng tamang nutrisyon ang aming mga anak mabuti na lamang at may ganitong klaseng programa ang CMC,” he said.
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