Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) consultant Alejandro Herrin on Thursday proposed the use of the conditional cash transfer program as a platform to identify poor beneficiaries and as a yardstick to target nutrition interventions, particularly for children suffering from chronic malnutrition.
Childhood stunting is closely linked to poverty, Herrin said in a study brief on the prevalence of childhood stunting in the country.
National nutrition projects have not been properly implemented due to the failure to identify a priority population for nutrition interventions.
Herrin said the CCT or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can do the job.
"For instance, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) ... was once eyed for the identification of the priority population for nutrition interventions."
The PIDS said its study found that there was little progress in reducing the prevalence of childhood stunting in the last 20 years. Herrin urged government leaders to adopt a more focused and strategic nutrition agenda.
Herrin suggested that the CCT be used as a platform to target nutrition interventions to narrow the link between childhood stunting and poverty.
He also encouraged the use of other platforms such as PhilHealth in providing and financing maternal and child health services.
Herrin urged the government to expand PhilHealth’s coverage to include maternal nutrition and care during pregnancy, child-feeding and safe food supplements, micronutrient supplementation in children, as well as reproductive health and family planning interventions.
Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed the prevalence of stunting in children less than five years of age, according to the PIDS.
Children having low height for their age reflects chronic malnutrition and can affect one-third of children under five or around 3.78 million Filipino children per year.
Herrin noted poor nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, especially during teenage pregnancies, result in poor nutrient consumption of children aged 6 to 23 months old.
The PIDS said that food insecurity was prevalent among the poor and, "ironically," agricultural families. — Margaret Claire Layug/VDS/KVD, GMA News
Childhood stunting is closely linked to poverty, Herrin said in a study brief on the prevalence of childhood stunting in the country.
National nutrition projects have not been properly implemented due to the failure to identify a priority population for nutrition interventions.
Herrin said the CCT or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can do the job.
"For instance, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) ... was once eyed for the identification of the priority population for nutrition interventions."
The PIDS said its study found that there was little progress in reducing the prevalence of childhood stunting in the last 20 years. Herrin urged government leaders to adopt a more focused and strategic nutrition agenda.
Herrin suggested that the CCT be used as a platform to target nutrition interventions to narrow the link between childhood stunting and poverty.
He also encouraged the use of other platforms such as PhilHealth in providing and financing maternal and child health services.
Herrin urged the government to expand PhilHealth’s coverage to include maternal nutrition and care during pregnancy, child-feeding and safe food supplements, micronutrient supplementation in children, as well as reproductive health and family planning interventions.
Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed the prevalence of stunting in children less than five years of age, according to the PIDS.
Children having low height for their age reflects chronic malnutrition and can affect one-third of children under five or around 3.78 million Filipino children per year.
Herrin noted poor nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, especially during teenage pregnancies, result in poor nutrient consumption of children aged 6 to 23 months old.
The PIDS said that food insecurity was prevalent among the poor and, "ironically," agricultural families. — Margaret Claire Layug/VDS/KVD, GMA News
