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Introduction
The Philippine National Strategic Framework for lan Development for CHildren or CHILD 21 is a
strategic framework for planning programs and interventions that promote and safegurad the rights
of Filipino children. Covering the period 2000-2005, it paints in broad strokes a vision for the quality
of life of Filipino children in 2025 and a roadmap to achieve the vision.
Children's Health 2025, a subdocument of CHILD 21, realizes that health is a critical and
fundamental element in children's welfare. However, health programs cannot be implemented in isolation
from the other component that determine the safety and well being of children in society. Children's
Health 2025, therefore, should be able to integrate the strategies and interventions into the overall plan
for children's development.
Children's Health 2025 contains both mid-term strategies, which is targeted towards the year
2004, while long-term strategies are targeted by the year 2025. It utilizes a life cycle approach and
weaves in the rights of children. The life cycle approach ensures that the issues, needs and gaps are
addressed at the different stages of the child's growth and development.
The period year 2002 to 2004 will put emphasis on timely diagnosis and management of
common diseases of childhood as well as disease prevention and health promotion, particularly in the
fields of immunization, nutrition and the acquisisiton of health lifestyles. Also critical for effective pallning
and implementation would be addressing the components of the health infrastructure such as human
resource development, quality assurance, monitoring and disease surveillance, and health information and
education.
The successful implementation of these strategies will require collaborative efforts with the
other stakeholdres and also implies integration with the other developmental plan of action for children.
Vision
A healthy Filipino child is:
Wanted, planned and conceived by healthy parentsCarried to term by healthy motherBorn into a
loving, caring. stable family capable of providing for his or her basic needsDelivered safely by a
trained attendant
Screened for congenital defects shortly after birth; if defects are found, interventions to corrrect
these defects are implemented at the appropriate time
Exclusively breastfed for at least six months of age, and continued breasfeeding up to two
yearsIntroduced to compementary foods at about six months of age, and gradually to a balanced,
nutritious dietProtected from the consequences of protein-calorie and micronutirent deficiencies
through good nutrition and access to fortified foods and iodized salt
Provided with safe, clean and hygienic surroundings and protected from accidentsProperly cared for
at home when sick and brought timely to a health facility for appropriate management when
needed.Offered equal access to good quality curative, preventive and promotive health care services
and health education as members of the Filipino society
Regularly monitored for proper growth and development, and provided with adequate psychosocial
and mental stimulationScreened for disabilities and developmental delays in early childhood; if
disabilities are found, interventions are implemented to enabled the child to enjoy a life of dignity at
the highest level of function attainable
Current Situation
Deaths among children have significantly decreased from previous years. In the 1998 NDHS, the
infant mortality rate was 35 per 1000 livebirths, while neonatal death rate was 18 deaths per 1000
livebirths. Among regions IMR is highest in Eastern Visayas and lowest in Metro Manila and Central
Visayas. Death is much higher among infants whose mothers had no antenatal care or medical assistance
at the time of delivery. Top causes of illness among infants are infectious diseases (pneumonia, measles,
diarrhea, meningitis, septicemia), nutritional deficiencies and birth-realted complications.
The probability of dying between birth and five years of age is 48 deaths per 1000 livebirths. The
top five leading causes of deaths (which make up about 70%) of deaths in this age group) are pneumonia,
diarrhea, measles, meningities and malnutrition. About 6% die of accidents i.e. submersion, foreign
bodies, and vehicular accidents.
The decline in mortality rates may be attributed partly to the Expanded Program of Immunization
(EPI), aimed to reduce infant and child mortality due to seven immunizable diseases (tuberculosis,
diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelities, Hepatitis B and measles).
The Philippines has been declared as polio-free druing the Kyoto Meeting on Poliomyelities
Eradication in the Western Pacific Region last October 2000. This. however, is not a reason to be
complacent. The risk of importing the poliovirus from neighboring countries remains high until global
certification of polio eradication. There is an urrgent need for sustained vigilance, which includes
strengthening the surveillance system, the capacity for rapid response to importation of wild poliovirus,
adequate laboratory containment of wild poliovirus materials, and maintaining high routine immunization
until global certification has been achieved.
Malnutrition is common among children. The 1998 FNRI survey show that three to four out of
ten children 0-10 years old are underweight and stunted. The prevalence of low vitamin A serum levels
and vitamin A deficiency even increased in 1998 compared to 1996 levels as reported by FNRI. Vitamin A
supplementation coverage reached to more than 90%, however, a downward trend was evident in the
succeeding years from as high as 97% in 1993 to 78% in 1997.
Breastfeeding rate is 88% (NSO 2000 MCH Survey), with percentage higher in rural areas (92%)
than in urban areas (84%). Exclusive breastfeeding increased from 13.2% to 20% among children 4-5 mos
of age (NDHS).
Several strategies were utilized to omprove child health. THe Integrated Management of
Childhood Illness aims at reducing morbidity and deaths due to common chldhood illness. The IMCI
strategy has been adopted nationwide and the process of integration into the medical, nursing, and
midwifery curriculum is now underway.
The Enhanced Child Growth strategy is a community-based intervention that aims to improve the
health and nutritional status of children through improved caring and seeking behaviors. It operates
through health and nutrition posts established throughout the country.