Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The World Bank on Thursday approved a $178.1-million loan to support the Philippines’ efforts in addressing malnutrition. The Washington-based bank informed that it will support the delivery of nutrition and health care services at the primary care and community levels to help reduce stunting that is characterized by prolonged nutritional deficiency among infants and young children.
According to the reports, Ndiame Diop, the World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand said “The persistence of high levels of childhood undernutrition in the Philippines, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, could lead to a significant increase in inequality of opportunities in the country.”
He further stated that improving the nutritional status of children is key to the Southeast Asian country’s goals of boosting human capital while strengthening the economic recovery and prospects for long-term growth. Globally, food prices, already on the rise since the second half of 2020, have reached a record high this year, leading to food security problems worldwide.
