What is Malnutrition and why is it important to make a stand against it?

Malnutrition is—Lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one eats.

Malnutrition remains a major threat to the survival, growth and development of children. India’s malnutrition problem results not from calorie intake but from dependence on a carbohydrate, based diet low in protein and fat. Another factor triggering malnutrition is inadequate sanitation, which triggers an increase in infection-borne deficiencies in nutrients. Malnutrition, in India continues to be at a high level with 42.5% children below the age of 5 being underweight and almost 70% being anemic. 22% children are born with low birth weight. Lack of adequate information on nutritional needs, has been identified as a major factor for the prevailing nutritional situation in the country. Child malnutrition is both the result of economic conditions and poor nutritional awareness.

Nutrition education and extension has been recognized as one of the long-term sustainable interventions essential to tackle the problem of malnutrition, to generate awareness and to promote the nutrition status of the country.

 Preventing Hunger and Malnutrition in India……

The prevalence of malnutrition—encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition—is an important indicator of a country’s health. Those who are either undernourished or are obese, underperform in various aspects of life, missing out on opportunities to become productive members of society. India is among those countries in the world with the highest recorded numbers of undernourished. As the country aspires to fulfil its economic and social development goals, malnutrition is one area which requires greater attention. An overview of the “State of Malnutrition” in India documents efforts being made to overcome the problem.

Good health benefits, not only the individual, but the nation as well. In many countries across the globe, the path to quality health for large proportions of their population is fraught with difficulties. In poor economies, people suffer from various health-related ailments, irrespective of their income level. Though efforts are being made by State and non-State actors to address these health problems, many countries continue to lag in meeting their goals and targets.

The Maternal Health Campaign

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Educating mothers to help them and their children live…  
The objective of this nationwide campaign against malnutrition is to address issues of status of women, the care of pregnant mothers and children under two, breastfeeding and the importance of balanced nutrition and health. The focus is on women between 13 and 35 years of age and their family members.
One of the most powerful relationships in global health and development is between a mother’s education and her child’s chances of survival. Newborns who do not get the desired amount of nutrition may likely not survive. Most recent available estimates show that in some developing countries, including India, nearly half of children under five years of age die each year due to poor nutrition. Those who survive under the same conditions experience serious health disorders at various stages of their life.

 Therefore, the more educated a mother, the less likely her child is to be malnourished”.

The most critical time of an individual’s health is the foundation built in their early years. A strong foundation leads to a healthier and safe future!!!