MANILA โ Bangsamoro Health Minister and Member of Parliament Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding Jr. reported improvements in health conditions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) but warned that lack of access to clean water and persistent nutrition problems continue to threaten public health.
Sinolinding spoke as keynote speaker at the World Health Congress organized by the Islamic Medical Association of the Philippines (IMAN-Philippines), held recently in Manila under the theme โGlobal Pathways for Healthy Aging: Science, Faith and Humanity in Harmony.โ
In his keynote address, โLife Course Approach: Building Healthy Aging from Childhood to Adulthood,โ Sinolinding said BARMMโs overall health indicators have improved compared to 2015, reflecting gains made since the regionโs transition to self-governance.
However, he stressed that access to safe and potable water remains a critical challenge.
โFlooding does not mean clean water,โ Sinolinding said, noting that water contamination continues to drive recurring cases of diarrhea in many Bangsamoro communities.
The minister also pointed to the regionโs โtriple burden of malnutrition,โ citing cases of undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies.
These, he said, are fueled by poor dietary intake, unsafe water sources, and physical inactivity.
Sinolinding emphasized the role of halal food in promoting holistic health, alongside the traditional โgo, grow, and glowโ food groups used in nutrition education.
He described halal food not only as a religious obligation but as an essential part of a healthy diet.
To underscore the link between faith and health, Sinolinding cited Surah Al-Baqarah 168, which calls on people to consume what is lawful (halal) and good (tayyib), reinforcing his message that public health is closely tied to both sound nutrition and ethical food practices.
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