GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The prevalence of malnutrition among tribal children in several upland communities in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato is now on downward trend, thanks to a community-based initiative of international child rights group Save the Children Foundation.

Fanny Divino, program manager for South Central Mindanao of Save the Children Foundation Inc.-Philippines, said the health and nutrition of underweight and undernourished children in several villages in Lake Sebu have improved significantly through the Positive Deviance Hearth (PD Hearth) program.

“Mothers from communities of Lake Sebu are now fighting malnutrition together, and that sparked these changes,” she said.

Divino said Save the Children initiated the PD Hearth to enable parents, schools, and communities to prevent and quickly reduce the levels of childhood malnutrition in indigenous communities in Mindanao.

The Positive Deviance (PD) approach recognizes that some solutions to problems already exist within the community while Hearth involves mothers and caregivers in rehabilitating malnourished children by learning and practicing new cooking, feeding, hygiene, and child-caring behaviors, she said.

Through the program, Divino said they trained mothers and caregivers in Lake Sebu in preparing and feeding their children with high-calorie foods over a 12-day period.

She said the participants of their PD Hearth sessions contribute ingredients like vegetables, rice, and eggs, and prepare the snacks together.

“They were empowered to take responsibility for the health and well-being of their children by participating in various learning sessions on nutrition and food security, feeding, hygiene, and child caring. Children participating in PD Hearth sessions have increased appetites and become healthier and more energetic,” Divino said.

According to Divino, they are committed to sustain the program in the area by supporting and motivating communities and residents to use locally available ingredients and provide nutritious foods to their children.

On Thursday, the group will hold a forum to encourage more local government units (LGUs) in the area to adopt the PD Hearth approach.

The PD Hearth forum, which will be held at the municipal gymnasium of Lake Sebu, will be attended by officials and representatives of local government units, National Nutrition Council, and several other local and international non-government organizations.