Davao City, April 30, 1998 - Severe malnutrition silently stalks children in Maguindanao, Davao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat and other areas of Central and Southern Mindanao ravaged by the onslaught of El Nino-related drought.
Health Secretary Carmencita Reodica said diarrhea and malaria have been complicated by a lack of safe drinking water.
Reodica said 102,000 pieces of Nutripaks worth P1 million have been sent to Maguindanao province, but the food supplements provide only half of the dietary requirements of malnourished children and are enough only for 50 days.
To reinforce the food supply, the health department provided Vitamin A capsules for pre- schoolers, iron drops for infants and iron tablets for both children and adults.
The department also appealed to private food companies whose products are fortified with macronutrients to provide food to the affected families.
As of yesterday, donations sent to the area included Gerber food mix, Nico-Pipo snack food, Payless instant noodles and BP5 compact food.
Reodica announced that ready-to-cook food from the Department of Social Welfare and rice from the National Food Authority will continue to be distributed to affected families.
The Philippine National Red Cross said there are 49,200 families in Southern and Central Mindanao suffering from food lack as a result of the drought, which has affected 172 towns and cities.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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