1 in 10 Pinoy kids suffer from anemia —DOST

One out of 10 children six to 12 years old suffer from anemia, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). 

"Sa kasalukuyan po ang national estimate ng anemia sa school-aged children ay 12.1%. This means one out of 10 school-aged children ay mayroong anemia," said Kim Irvin Protacio, Science Research Specialist II of the DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), in a public briefing on Wednesday. 

(Currently, the national estimate of anemia in school-aged children is 12.1%. This means one out of 10 school-aged children has anemia.) 

Protacio said this is based on the DOST-FNRI's 2018-2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey.

"Kung mapapansin niyo ito ay pre-pandemic pa, so kasalukuyan kami po ay nagsasagawa ng national nutrition survey na nagsimula po siya last year at ngayong taon po ay tinitingnan namin upang magkaroon ng mas updated na datos regarding sa anemia," he added. 

(If you notice, this is still pre-pandemic, so we are currently conducting a national nutrition survey that started last year, and this year, we are looking to have more updated data on anemia.) 

Still, he noted that anemia, a blood disorder characterized by a low red blood cell count, is considered a public health problem of mild significance. 

Those with anemia can experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and fatigue. 

Protacio said that children between six and nine years old are highly vulnerable as they undergo rapid growth and development.

"So kailangan po ng mas madaming iron at hemoglobin sa ating katawan," he stressed. 

(So they need more iron and hemoglobin in their body.) 

Meanwhile, those not under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and the National Dietary Supplementation Program are unlikely to be at risk. 

"Isa pang discovery ay ang mga batang obese o sobra sa timbang ay mas maliit ang tyansa nila na magka-anemia," he added. 

(Another discovery is that children who are obese or overweight have a smaller chance of getting anemia.)

He added that being anemic may result in impaired cognitive functioning and development, which can affect the thinking of school-aged children. 

To protect and help children with anemia, DOST said the parents must be guided on what to feed them and get themselves informed about the condition. —LDF, GMA Integrated News