According to the June 2017 data report from UNICEF,
malnutrition is the cause for nearly half of all deaths in children under 5,
which accounts for 3 million lives a year (UNICEF, 2017). Two effects of
malnutrition include stunted growth and obesity. In 2016, UNICEF collected data
that showed 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight worldwide
(UNICEF, 2017). This data also showed that 22.9% (nearly 1 out of 4) of
children under the age of 5 worldwide had stunted growth (UNICEF, 2017).
The region most affected by malnutrition with the least
progress since 2000 is the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The 2016 data reports
showed that 1 in 3 children that lived in the Sub-Saharan Africa region were
victim of stunted growth and, the health care systems in this region are not
equipped for the rise of overweight children and the growing number of
malnutrition (UNICEF, 2017).
Nutrition and malnutrition are important issues to me
because I believe that all children should have access to healthy foods. Nutrition
allows children to grow and develop healthy across all domains and I am someone
that believes that no child should have to suffer without having access to nutritious
foods.
Currently, I only participate in community food drives and
fundraisers and have not yet been able to globally help. I hope that I can
continue to support my local community and further help children globally with
obtaining access to nutritious foods.
Reference
UNICEF. (June 2017). Undernutrition
contributes to nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 and is widespread
in Asia and Africa. Retrieved from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/malnutrition/#
Hello Nicole!
ReplyDeleteWow! The percentages for malnutrition are high, I agree with you all children should have access to fresh nutritious foods. Also, I believe that poverty affects this topic as well because, I find that a lot of families are able to afford a dollar cheeseburger from McDonald's but, have a hard time spending four dollars on a bag of apples. We recently had a local farm pair up with our school district to provide fresh food for the children and they discount their food severely as a donation/grant requirement. It's awesome you participate in food drives and fundraisers as no child should go hungry.
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteNutrition is perhaps the most essential element for healthy physical and brain development in children. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs it is listed as one of the most basic needs that must be meet before children can be ready to learn. I admire your passion and commitment to such an important and worthy issue.
Best,
Beatriz