Dominican Republic presented a reduction from 20.4% to 6.7% in the population suffering from hungeralso observing a reduction in the indicator of people with malnutrition, according to the Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (CIF), presented this Tuesday by the humanitarian aid organization World Vision.
According to this report, after analyzing the entire national geography, it was determined that 11% of the Dominican population is in a situation of crisis either emergency health, with the provinces of Elías Piña, Independencia, Monseñor Nouel, Montecristi and Valverde being those with the lowest food safety.
By August 2024, the projection was that 7.5 million would have their food guaranteedmeanwhile, a million were in the phase of crisis or phase 3, with relevant percentages of households that marginally cover their energy and nutrient requirements.
“It is important to recognize that as a country we have made significant progress in issues of food safety. 89% of the Dominican population, according to the CIF, is in a marked or moderate phase of food safetythat is, has access to food sufficient,” commented Vladimir Medrano, Impact Manager of World Vision.
Medrano recalled that there are still gaps to be covered and these are reflected in delays in the growththe increase in diabetes cases and increase in obesity in children and adolescents, as well as breastfeeding, which still constitutes a challenge for the country.
Bell “Enough“
Within the framework of the celebration of its 35 years of operations in Dominican Republicwith the purpose of contributing to the reduction of the rates of child malnutrition and guarantee the food safety for all boys and girls in the country, World Vision launched its Campaign against him hunger “Enough“.
“Article 24 of the United Nations Rights of the Child clearly establishes the fundamental need for children to receive good feeding. This applies to all children, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. The article also indicates that boys and girls should have an adequate amount of food nutritious, live in a safe environment, including access to safe water, and that their caregivers should receive training in nutrition and optimal health practices. feeding for boys and girls,” highlighted Elicaury Bautista Bidó, country director of World Vision.
He explained that a feeding nutritious enough is essential for the growth physical and brain development of young boys and girls. As they grow, the food Nutrition also protects them from common illnesses and provides them with the fuel needed to learn.
Therefore, the Campaign “Enough” comes to address these challenges, addressing the root cause of the hunger and malnutrition (hunger zero), promoting structural changes, through sustainable public policies that guarantee access to food nutritious for all, mobilization of interested parties to promote collective actions at key moments, and raising awareness in society about the importance of feeding suitable for childhood.
It will be implemented in 70 countries, directly impacting 25 million children.
Nutritional quality in schools
Yomaira Tejeda, in charge of the Nutrition Department of the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie), highlighted the importance of guaranteeing the nutritional quality of the students and highlighted the efforts of the State to improve the programs of school feeding.
He spoke about the changes that have been made to the school breakfastwhich impacts 20% of the Dominican population and defined it as “the largest and most complex social program in Dominican Republic“.
Tejeda assured that, in educational centers, the hunger was reduced to 0% and in the last 12 years, malnutrition remains below 3%, thus reducing micronutrient deficiency.
Some of the actions that stood out were the elimination of nectar, which translates into a reduction of 27 thousand pounds of sugar in the last three years, as well as the modification of recipes that allowed the sodium (salt) rate to be lowered by 300%. to 88%.
Similarly, nine fresh fruits have been incorporated into the school snack, including mangoes, pineapples, bananas, lechesas, pitahayas and mandarinsall locally produced. There was also an increase in the use of coconut, oats and vegetables in the dishes that children consume.
