Childhood malnutrition remains a significant health issue globally, and the Philippines is no exception. According to the Department of Health, one in four children under five is stunted. This means that they are short for their age. Abbott is taking steps to address this issue by increasing awareness and collaborating with celebrity moms and local communities to combat stunting in Filipino children.
Abbott’s Growth Watch Initiative
Abbott’s Growth Watch initiative focuses on highlighting childhood stunting, a severe form of malnutrition. The program aims to empower parents with the knowledge and tools to identify and address stunting in their children.
Stunting can severely impact a child’s development, health, and future potential. Children affected by stunting may face immune deficiencies, cognitive impairments, behavioral issues, poor bone health, and reduced muscle mass. The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-2028 has pinpointed poor feeding practices and low nutrition literacy as significant contributors to malnutrition in the country. Alarmingly, two out of three Filipino mothers do not recognize stunting as a critical issue affecting child development.
The Need for Education and Early Intervention
“There is a clear need to educate parents on the prevalence and impact of childhood stunting on growth and development,” says Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., Nutrition Medical Affairs Director for Abbott in Pacific Asia. “Early identification of growth issues and quick intervention for children at risk of nutrition deficiency can profoundly impact the fight against stunting. This is why Abbott is taking a multidisciplinary approach. We are working with communities and healthcare practitioners to provide tools and information to spot signs of malnutrition and take action.”
Collaborating with Celebrity Moms and Communities
By partnering with celebrity moms, influencers, and online mom communities, Abbott aims to raise awareness of stunting. Moreover, they are providing parents with educational resources to help their children reach their full growth potential. Since its inception in 2021, Growth Watch has educated over 161,000 families. Its goal is to double this reach by the end of next year.
“Abbott is driven by our mission to help children have a healthy start and reach their optimal growth,” says Angelico Escobar, General Manager of Abbott’s nutrition business in the Philippines. “We know that malnutrition is complex and affects children’s growth across all socioeconomic classes. Growth Watch is one of Abbott’s efforts to fight global malnutrition and help children achieve their growth potential through measurement and proper nutrition.”
Abbott’s Broader Efforts Against Childhood Malnutrition
In 2021, Abbott launched the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions, an initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition worldwide. This center collaborates with external experts and partners to identify, treat, and prevent malnutrition in vulnerable populations. This includes children, aging adults, and under-resourced communities. The Growth Watch initiative also supports Abbott’s 2030 Sustainability Plan, which aims to transform care for malnutrition and other diseases.
Tools and Resources for Parents
As part of the Growth Watch initiative, parents and guardians are encouraged to join mom communities to regularly measure their children’s height and ensure they receive proper nutrition. Available tools and resources include the PediaSure Plus Growth Calculator and the PediaSure Plus Height Chart. Additionally, they have free growth assessments, and nutrition counseling.
Proper nutrition is crucial in addressing malnutrition and stunting. Early intervention can help mitigate growth issues and ensure children reach their full developmental potential. For children who do not get enough nutrients from food alone, nutritional supplements like PediaSure Plus can help fill the gaps. Recommended by doctors, PediaSure Plus contains 37 key growth nutrients. This includes natural vitamin K2 and arginine, to support faster growth and strong bones.
For more information on growth tools and resources, visit PediaSure Tools and Resources. To register for a free growth assessment and nutrition counseling, call Abbott’s Careline at Metro Manila: (02) 8995-1555 or PLDT toll-free hotline: 1-800-10-995-1555.