Child healthy food

 

Child healthy food

 The World Health Organization (WHO) established a nutrition for all initiative in 1990, with the aim of promoting and sustaining health and achieving global targets of universal primary education coverage, ensuring gender-balanced nutrition (among children), improved nutrition in remote areas, supporting sustainable economic growth, and improving quality of life for all people. In 2020, the UN Secretary General as Emergency Plan on Covid-19 has recommended that all countries prioritize the implementation of a Nutrition for All Strategy, “to achieve optimal human development outcomes on a global scale, through nutrition-sensitive approaches and policies, to address and recover from food insecurity,â€� according to WHO. According to UNESCO data, 60% of rural populations in Africa have never consumed a balanced diet that meets the guidelines on healthy eating, and only 15% are considered to be at risk of malnutrition, making their overall survival very precarious. With many cases of acute malnutrition occurring in regions where most indigenous peoples reside, it is important for governments to work together to increase access to timely, affordable, nutritious food in these vulnerable communities so that they can improve their lives and make more informed decisions about what goes into their bodies. WHO recently stated that over 6,000 deaths occur each year as a result of undernourishment in children under five years old. This devastating condition is one of the biggest threats to global food security. The effects of childhood malnutrition are seen when it comes to learning, cognitive development, and physical wellbeing. According to the International Day of Zero Tolerance, the death toll from malnutrition is 1 million higher in low- and middle-income countries than they would be without this preventable threat. Despite some improvements following interventions by national governments, such as programs, and campaigns, there remain gaps in terms of access and quality of nutrition. Furthermore, the percentage of underweight infants that die before reaching 24 months is still significantly high, and up to 50% of them experience mortality. A study, published in June 2021, found that around 2 million young children lose out on their nutritional rights each year because they are not receiving enough calories in their diets. For many, starvation becomes fatal because they cannot access sufficient nutrients. In addition to malnutrition, other conditions linked to childhood malnutrition include, e.g., toothache, diarrhea, anemia, asthma, and pneumonia. Because of these conditions

, especially the chronic ones, and severe pain, these children become stunted in their intellectual capabilities and are unable to engage fully in school activities. They can also become prone to infection due to malnutrition. For example, stunting affects up to 27 percent of babies born in 2019, which equates to nearly 17.5 million children worldwide. In Tanzania alone, stunting accounts for almost half of all newborn deaths, accounting for $2 billion in lost medical costs in 2018, according to World Bank statistics. And, according to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) estimates, almost 100 million premature infants, and 9 million girls under age 5 are stunted annually. Nutrition-sensitive economies should take steps to end malnutrition, including increasing public awareness, establishing nutrition systems, prioritizing appropriate programs, empowering women and girls to play integral roles in their societies, and strengthening policy and advocacy on nutrition. As poverty continues to rise on a global scale, governments, non-governmental organizations and civil society must step up efforts and improve access to healthcare, especially in rural and developing nations. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals 10 and 11 (2021-2025), it is imperative for governments to provide appropriate nutrition assistance programs across all levels. At the same time, they must consider how to strengthen existing systems for the provision of public services, like schools, health centers, and water, sanitation and hygiene, and ensure access to clean water for sanitation and hygiene services throughout the country. Increasing population growth in developing countries requires increased investment in nutrition, which will not be achieved unless nutrition-sensitive governments and institutions are implemented globally.