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C. Valley’s anemic children up by 16% in national rate

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The number of children suffering from anemia or iron deficiency in Cagayan Valley is higher by 16 percent than the national rate, according to the latest survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

Citing the said report, Rhodora Maestre, nutrition council director for Cagayan Valley, said that of those surveyed in the region, children aged five to six years old were found to be the most suffering anemia, even surpassing the national rate.

On the average, the report shows that for every five children in the region, two are suffering from anemia, a condition in which one has poor level of red blood cells, which provide oxygen to body tissues, that, if not treated during the early stages, may lead to serious health problems such as leukemia or cancer of the blood.

Likewise, 60 and 58 percent of pregnant and lactating women, respectively, in the region were also found to be lacking in iron in the body, which, if not treated during their child-bearing stage, could also lead to health disorders for their future babies.

“Women are more prone to the disorder because of their reproductive functions. Breastfeeding mothers basically are the source of the infants of their iron requirements. This lessens, if not depletes, the iron in the mother’s body,” Maestre said.

Health authorities described the latest FNRI findings as somewhat alarming since iron deficiency during the mothers’ child-bearing stage may lead to their infants’ abnormal or delayed mental and physical development as well as lower resistance to infections.

Maestre said that the high incidence of anemia in the region may have been caused by a diet low in iron or by poor absorption of iron by the body as well as lesser awareness of the rich food sources of iron and the infestation by parasitic organisms like hookworm.

Nutrition officials were in the province over the week in observance of the province’s own nutrition month in efforts to heighten the level of awareness on the importance of nutrition as a means to prevent iron and iodine deficiencies and other health disorders. CCL

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