Counseling Conducted in Mand on Nutrition and Health

By Amy Levendusky

From May 9th through July 13th, Pelihna Moses from Mand and Amy Levendusky of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP) spent 6 days in Mand visiting a total of 39 families. Mand families received counseling on vitamin A deficiency, diabetes, and dental hygiene. Counseling was initiated in Mand based on findings from the project entitled, "Pohnpeian Traditional Food for Health", sponsored by the IFCP. During April through July 2005, vitamin A status in mothers and their children, fasting blood sugar in adults and dental hygiene in children were evaluated.

Around thirty-three percent of the 40 children (age 1-12 years) tested in Mand were vitamin A deficient. This is over twice the cut-off for a problem of public health significance, which is 15%, showing how serious the problem here is. Lack of vitamin A in the body can cause night blindness, partial or total blindness, it can make respiratory diseases like pneumonia worse, and it can increase the risk of infections especially among children. The mothers of those children found to be Vitamin A deficient, were advised that yellow-fleshed local foods such as the Karat and Daiwang bananas, giant swamp taro, pandanus, ripe mango, ripe papaya, pumpkin, sweet potato, and dark leafy greens such as pele, kangkong, and chaya are high in pro-vitamin A carotenoids (the substance which turns into Vitamin A in the body) and should be eaten everyday. Rice and bread have no Vitamin A or provitamin A carotenoids and should be eaten with Vitamin A rich food. Also fish liver is an excellent source of vitamin A.

Out of 84 males and 85 females tested for their fasting blood sugar, a total of 41 new cases of possible diabetes were identified. Those people who were found to have high fasting blood sugar levels were advised to eat three balanced meals a day at regular times. They were also encouraged to choose foods low in fat and sugar and high in fiber. Alcohol should also be limited. Along with eating healthy, it is important to exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time.

At the time of the dental screening, it was found that out of 85 children between the ages of 1 to 14, only 3 had healthy teeth. Most children had several cavities, up to 16 cavities per child. The mothers of those children were advised that it is very important to take care of the baby teeth because if they become damaged, it can affect the health of their children's permanent teeth. They were also encouraged to take their children to the Pohnpei Dental Division to have the damaged teeth treated.

IFCP thanks the Mand community and our collaborating partners and support agencies, including the Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs, Departments of Health and Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, COM/FSM Land Grant, Natural Resource Conservation Service, CINE, CDC, Sight and Life, New Zealand and Australian Embassies, the Global Environmental Fund, and Pacific German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP).