PILI, CamSur (6 January 2010) -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported that some 11,700 underweight children in some 204 remote and coastal barangays of the province of Camarines Sur have benefited under the LRay Vita Kidz Nutrition Program last year.
The 11,700 children beneficiaries last year brought to a total of 25,574 children beneficiaries since the project was launched in year 2005 by Governor LRay Villafuerte.
The program was not only successful in improving the health and nutrition of beneficiary-children but also in inculcating awareness among local folks of the importance of proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy environment.
Its major components include food and vitamin supplementations, de-worming before the start of the program, nutrition class for parents, and the distribution of assorted vegetable seeds for backyard or community gardens so that the parents will have additional source of food to sustain the nutritional needs of the children- beneficiaries.
Local officials and barangay leaders who monitored the progress of the children- beneficiaries during the implementation of the program were united in confirming its efficacy and efficiency.
Children-beneficiaries showed marked improvement in their weights and bearing after the almost three-month regimen under the diligent care of barangay nutritionists, health workers and PHO personnel.
According to Dr. Gerardo N. Villafuerte, PHO head, the nutritional status in Camarines Sur is gradually improving as a result of the yearly implementation of the LRay Vita Kidz program. S.Nieves/MMEC