DOH concerned by Iron deficiency anemia

CEBU, Philippines – A top ranking health official yesterday expressed concern on iron deficiency anemia.

Dr. Nayda Bautista, Child Health and Nutrition Medical Coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas, said the law on iron supplementation has not been well im-plemented since.

The law on food fortification was signed or passed in 2000 yet. It requires that after four years of its approval or in 2004, most food in the market should already be fortified with iron and vitamin A, among others.

These include wheat flour, rice and others as may be required by the National Nutrition Council.

Iron deficiency anemia has since been identified as a public concern in the Philippines, along with Vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency.

The government’s intervention was short-lived and the improvement of a child’s condition would rely mostly on diversifying his or her diet, which is why lawmakers passed the food fortification so these nutrients would be found in products sold at the markets.

Since the law was passed 10 years ago, however, not many food sold in the market are fortified with Iron or Vitamin A.

As part of the concern on the overall health of a child, the DOH also yesterday discussed the breastfeeding initiatives of the government.

The Breastfeeding and Mother-Baby Friendly Initiatives, according to Bautista, help sustain the breastfeeding practice in order to support the mothers in having healthier children.

The DOH stresses the need for companies or workplaces to help revive breastfeeding in the country by providing rooms for mothers to breastfeed during break time.

For Bautista, the role of breast milk is preventing diseases and reducing feeding costs, while promoting bonding between mother and child, can never be overemphasized.

Breast milk is considered a child’s first immunization, as it contains antibodies from the mother. It is also said to increase a child’s intelligence quotient (IQ). (FREEMAN)