Committed to help the Filipino learners achieve their fullest potential, SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) complemented its recent new school building turnover in Zamboanga Central School-SPED Center with a two-day medical mission which targeted the more than 620 malnourished schoolchildren, including their parents and siblings.
According to a UNICEF study, “The State of the World’s Children: Children, Food and Nutrition,” Filipino children are increasingly suffering from poor diet, inadequate nutrition, and food systems—that one in three Filipino children under five years old have stunted growth, while roughly 7 per cent of children are too thin for their height. In addition to this, UNICEF found out that a tenth of Filipino adolescents are now overweight.
More so, the 8th National Nutrition Survey revealed that the highest prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting are among those in the rural areas. The Zamboanga Peninsula was among the top three regions with the highest prevalence for stunting.
In relation to these challenges on malnutrition, SM Foundation believes that the said findings play a vital role in the holistic development of the learners, and that by executing various health and wellness program for students in their adopted schools will help battle this dilemma.
Student-beneficiaries underwent medical tests, including x-ray, to determine the cause of their malnutrition. Multivitamins and full medication were given afterwards. Lectures and demonstrations on proper food nutrition were also conducted. The progress of the schoolchildren will be monitored for a period of 6-9 months.
The Zamboanga Central School-SPED Center is a beneficiary of a two-story, four- classroom school building from SM Prime, through SM Foundation. The building is complete with essential school facilities and equipment like the Home Economics Room and a Science Laboratory Room.