Context:
UNICEF foresees 3.2 million children under five to suffer acute malnutrition this year in war-torn Sudan. An estimated 7,72,000 children are likely to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
Sudan Crisis
Sudan has endured 20 months of war between the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing tens of thousands and, according to the United Nations, uprooting 12 million in the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Defining Malnutrition
Malnutrition involves deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in terms of energy or nutrients. Types of malnutrition include wasting, stunting, underweight, and diseases related to micronutrient malnutrition. Overall, by 2022, the numbers for global pictures were as follows: 149 million children under 5 years were stunted; 45 million were wasted; and 37 million were overweight or obese.
- Malnutrition levels in India:
- 35.5% of children below 5 years are stunted, 19.3% are wasted, 32.1% are underweight, and 3% are overweight.
Malnutrition Health Impact in India
- The health implications brought about by malnutrition include growth stunting in children, exposure to severe pathogenic infection, poor cognitive functions, continued school dropout rates, economic implications of continued education, intergenerational effects such as future productivity, and social implications like national development and increased burden of healthcare.
What Are the Problems That India Faces in the Management of Malnutrition?
- Economic Inequality
- Poor people often cannot afford nutritious food or do not have access to it.
- Poor Nutritional Intake and Dietary Changes
- There has been a change in the dietary pattern from diverse to processed and high sugar.
- Poor Sanitation
- Poor sanitary and hygiene practices lead to contact with pathogens and parasites that cause malnutrition.
- Absence of Primary Health Infrastructure
- Most Indians lack access to the most basic health services, exposing them to potential disease development and complications.
- Delayed and Inconsistent Service Delivery
- Another factor contributing to the gap in nutritional interventions is implementation delay and inconsistency in service provision.
- Inadequate Monitoring and Evaluation
- Inadequate mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation makes it difficult to measure the program impact.
Tackling Malnutrition in India: Key Strategies
- Fortification
- Low-cost method of adding essential nutrients to staple foods.
- Iodised salt
- Reduced goitre rates under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in 1992.
- Development of a Focused SBCC Action Plan
- A well-structured plan to address malnutrition.
- Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
- Improving healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, and enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers to diagnose and treat malnutrition.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Developing strong monitoring and evaluation systems that track the impact of nutrition interventions.
- Consumption of Locally Nutritious Food
- Promoting the consumption of locally available, traditional food sources that are rich in essential nutrients.
- Community Empowerment
- Involving local communities in the design and implementation of nutrition programs.
- Communication Strategies
- Community radio, videos, and outreach to build a relationship with, and address local contexts.
Government Initiatives to Tackle Malnutrition?
- Mission Poshan 2.0
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme
- Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)
- Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA)
- Poshan Vatikas
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims:
Q. Which of the following is/are the indicators/ indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (2016)
- Undernourishment
- Child stunting
- Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only
Ans: C
Mains:
Q. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from
