Abbott’s Growth Watch Empowers Parents to Beat Childhood Stunting

by Maxine Go
July 4, 2024

There are a lot of things that can stunt an individual’s childhood. Here’s how Abbott Growth Watch solves it!

In the Philippines, child malnutrition and stunting remain a significant problem, with one in four Filipino children below the age of five suffering from stunting / malnutrition and two in three moms are unaware of the long-term effects of stunting on childhood growth. Stunting in a child is essentially when a child is unable to reach their full potential in growth and development.

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr., Abbott Medical Director for Asia Pacific, Mom Influencers, Niña Corpuz, and Karel Marquez

What happens when a child’s growth is stunted?

This is a critical issue as it greatly impacts children’s physical growth, cognitive development, immune health, educational performance, lost productivity, and it risks nutrition-related chronic diseases later on in their lives. As parents, we can take small steps to help improve this issue, such as setting a good example, prioritizing family mealtime, screening for nutritional deficiencies, and seeking support. It is important to keep an eye out for this problem especially while they are still young to reduce the long-term effects on their children.

Every day, 95 children in the Philippines die from malnutrition and a third of Filipino children are stunted or are short for their age. These are concerning observations and it is no surprise that the Philippines ranks fifth among countries in East Asia and the Pacific region with the highest prevalence of child stunting. A large contributor to the prevalent issue of malnutrition in the Philippines is the growing rate of poverty in the country.

Despite concerted efforts, the stunting rate has plateaued over the last decade, indicating a persistent challenge in ensuring adequate nutrition for our nation’s youth and a call to action to improve the state of stunting/malnutrition in the country. This is where Abbott comes in.

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr., Abbott Medical Director for Asia Pacific, debunks common Filipino myths and misconceptions, emphasizing the importance of early and consistent growth monitoring, along with intervention with proper nutrition and measuring tools.

How Abbott helps parents fight against the problem

Abbott has developed their Growth Watch Campaign to empower parents to beat childhood stunting/ malnutrition. Abbott believes that every stage of a child’s life can be healthy with good nutrition. This program aims to raise awareness and educate parents on identifying this issue, seeking treatment, and overall preventing malnutrition.

Abbott also plans to equip parents with the proper tools and resources to guide their children, help them reach their full potential, and prevent the negative impact of stunting and malnutrition. Do not miss out on this opportunity to ensure the best possible development and outcome for your child!

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr. shows the Pinggang Pinoy plate to help parents ensure their children receive the right amount of nutrients.

For more information on the growth tools and resources, visit https://www.family.abbott/ph-en/pediasure/tools-and-resources.html.

For free growth assessment and nutrition counseling, register online or by calling Abbott’s

Careline – Metro Manila: (02) 8995-1555 and PLDT toll free hotline: 1-800-10-995-1555.

More about children’s growth?

Ready, Set, Grow: PediaSure Plus Helps in Preparing Your Children for Back-to-School
A Progressive Approach to Learning Gives Children A Much-Needed Edge in Their Futures
The Importance of Sleep for Children

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