Nutritional deficiencies in the world merit action from society

Editor:

It is a notion of popular modern belief, which has also been lined by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that people of any gender, race, class, sexuality, abilities, religion or any other identifiers have the unalienable demand for food, water, and shelter. Over time, these basic necessities have been amended, to include safety, education and freedom of speech and expression, among others.

However, despite the many attempts to secure these timeless requirements for human prosperity, there remain countless issues and humanitarian threats all over the planet that perpetually harm entire populations.

Among them is one that has been in public attention for decades: the fight against hunger and malnutrition. The month of December is recognized this year for the Tokyo-held, Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, from Dec. 7 to 8. Along with it entails the demand for more accountability and support from activist society.

It’s devastating to think that undernourishment—a deficiency in nutrient intake—is responsible for 45 per cent of child deaths (two million under the age of five), as opposed to unpreventable circumstances like birth complications or genetic conditions.

Chronic malnutrition causes 149 million children under the age of five to be stunted (too short for their age).

Poor nutrition and subsequent stunting hinder their minds, bodies, and immune systems from full development, exposing them to disease and disabilities for their entire lives. 49.5 million children are underweight for their height, increasing their mortality risk and vulnerability to disease and illness.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, millions of citizens lost their sources of income and moved to less costly sources of nutrients, increasing the risk of undernutrition. The most disadvantaged and hard-to-reach women and children have suffered. In the next three years, an extra 283,000 children under the age of five will die of malnutrition as a result of this. A further 3.6 million children are expected to suffer lifelong physical and cognitive repercussions of stunting.

Malnutrition has tremendous economic repercussions on both national and global markets. When children’s immune systems and cognitive abilities are compromised, they are unable to learn in school, resulting in reduced employment earnings later in life. Children who are malnourished earn 20 per cent less in adult pay than children who are well fed.

Malnutrition reduces productivity and keeps entire countries underdeveloped. Malnutrition costs the world economy $3.5 trillion each year.

Fortunately, these losses can be averted. Contributions such as supporting qualified organizations best positioned to serve people in need, such as the Global Financing

Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, help to move the global crisis closer to its objective of ending world hunger.

Nutritional investments and efforts may provide an additional USD$16 in economic benefits for every dollar spent, making them a cost-effective approach for a healthy planet. So, CAD$150 million of Canada’s investment in N4G should be directed to the GFF.

According to António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, “malnutrition, hunger and famine are not forces of nature.

They are the result of the actions–or inactions–of all of us.” It will require that everyone do their part, both within and outside of civil society, by advocating for the support necessary to fight malnutrition—to invest in healthy, well-fed communities.

Sharanya Sivasathiyanathan

Ottawa, Ont.