Updates on public health programs of the philippines

It has a multitude of distinct advantages. This suboptimal breastfeeding practice contributes to , infant deaths per worldwide which affects the overall reduction of newborn, infant and under-five mortality rates. In , infant and young child feeding practices were assessed using the WHO assessment protocol and rated poor to fair. Findings showed four out of ten newborns were initiated to breastfeeding within an hour after birth, three out of ten infants less than six months were exclusively breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was only thirteen months.

The complementary feeding indicator was also rated as poor since only The assessment also found out that complementary foods were introduced too early, at the age of less than two months. These poor practices needed urgent action and aggressive sustained interventions.

In Davao, for instance, most infants are malnourished because they have low breastfeeding rate and instead, they are given am. Usually teenage mothers practice this. These statistics are unfortunate since recent studies have shown that continued breastfeeding alone cuts this by half.

This shows the great impact of exclusive and complete breastfeeding on the survival of infants. As newborn and infant deaths remain of public health significance, the reduction of these two indicators will have tremendous impact on further reducing under-five mortality rates. It aimed to improve the nutritional status and health of children especially the under-three and consequently reduce infant and under-five mortality. The 81 provinces in the country are endemic for at least one of these NTDs.

Others may be endemic for two or even more of these diseases. Since , after the Philippines accepted and implemented the WHO guidelines for NTDs prevention, control and elimination, significant progress has been achieved in reducing the magnitude of NTDs endemic in the country. By , only four provinces remain endemic for LF. For schistosomiasis, as of , report from the Department of Health DOH put the number of high endemic provinces at 10, moderately endemic at 6 and low to elimination levels at Gerardo S.

Mogol Supervising Health Program Officer gmogol. Maria Sonabel S. Anarna Supervising Health Program Officer msonabel. Luis F. Cruz Supervising Health Program Officer lcruz.

Rolando I.