Church launches nutrition drive for Tacloban children

TACLOBAN CITY — More than 100 children aged five and below underwent nutritional screening here on Saturday as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched its Child Nutrition Program to support affected families.

The screening at the church’s Tacloban Philippines Stake Center marked the start of the program, which will cover children in church communities in Tacloban City and the nearby towns of Palo, Tanauan, Alangalang and Santa Fe in Leyte, as well as Basey in Samar.

Rosemary Chibota, general president of the church’s Primary organization, which oversees programs for children worldwide, witnessed the launch.

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“I am excited that this program is launched in the Philippines because it’s really needed to help future generations of Filipino people,” Chibota told reporters.

She said the program seeks to help children grow not only physically but also spiritually, emotionally and mentally, noting that poor nutrition can affect their growth and development.

During the screening, children were measured for height, weight and mid-upper arm circumference, indicators commonly used to assess nutritional status.

Church volunteers entered the measurements into the ShareMyHealth application, allowing them to immediately determine whether a child was within the normal nutritional range, malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

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Children identified as malnourished will be referred to physicians for further assessment and appropriate guidance, while local church units, or wards, will provide support to families based on their identified needs.

The church said interventions will continue until the children’s nutritional status returns to normal. Mothers will also be trained to prepare nutritious food suited to their children’s preferences.

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Chibota said the church’s program is intended to complement, rather than replace, government nutrition programs.

“We want to help the government,” she said, adding that if the program works well in Tacloban, the church could consider implementing it in other parts of the country.

She said the program is funded by church members, but children from families who are not members of the church may also avail themselves of the services.

Chibota said the program will continue for as long as it is needed.

The initiative comes amid continuing concerns over childhood malnutrition in the Philippines.

Unicef and the National Nutrition Council reported in 2025 that one in two Filipino children under 5 experiences child food poverty, meaning they consume fewer than five of eight essential food groups in a day. Among children aged 6 to 23 months, only about one in five meets the minimum dietary diversity needed for healthy development.

A 2025 Unicef-Philippine Institute for Development Studies report also placed the prevalence of stunting, or chronic malnutrition, among Filipino children below 5 at 23.6% in 2023.

The National Nutrition Council considers the first 1,000 days, from conception until a child’s second birthday, a critical period for physical growth and brain development. Poor nutrition during this period can have long-term effects on physical and cognitive development.

The Philippine government has institutionalized nutrition interventions during this period through Republic Act No. 11148, or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which calls for integrated nutrition and health services for mothers, infants, and young children.

While the church’s program covers children up to 5 years old, its screening component could help identify children who need medical or nutritional intervention before problems become more severe.

For the church, Chibota said the goal is to help ensure that children are healthy enough to reach their full potential.

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“We want to make sure that the children will be strong both spiritually and physically, emotionally and mentally,” she said. /mcm