MALNUTRITION:THE SILENT PANDEMIC

   There are people in the world so hungry, that god can not appear to them except  in the form of bread     :- M.K.GANDHI

  The latest child malnutrition number, as reported by the 1st phase of the NHFS(2019-20) should prove distressing for policy.

malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person's intake of energy or nutrients.

while malnutrition already remains the predominant risk factor for child death and total disability adjusted life years, the COVID-19 has pushed back our effort on ending malnutrition, which plagues india's children.

There is a real risk that, as nation strive to control the virus, the gains made in reducing hunger and malnutrition will be lost. The need for more equitable, resilient and sustainable food and health system never been more urgent.

👉 CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION:-

• Inequity is a cause of malnutrition both under nutrition and over weight.
• inadequate dietary intake and disease are directly responsible for under nutrition.

👉 MALNURTITION AND INDIA:-

• Malnutrition in india accounts for 68% of total five deaths.
• India is home to about 30% of the world's stunted children.

Hence, the right to food would be meaningless if it leaves a large section of india's hungry, stunted and wasted.

👉 MEASURE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT:-

• The government of india had launched THE POSHAN ABHIYAN  to ensure a "malnutrition free india" by 2022.
• Mid day meal scheme aim to improve nutritional levels among school children.
• ICDS scheme aims at providing food, preschool education, immunization etc.

👉 STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN:-

• Strategies like 'take home ration' and 'mid day meal' to ensure the continuation of services.
• strict measure are needed to ensure that the public distribution system is accessible to all.

India can reap it's demographic dividends only when it address it's malnutrition problem seriously and can achive high socio-economic development.