Understanding Nutrition data and the Causes of Malnutrition in Niger
Malnutrition is the greatest threat world-wide to public health. In basic terms, malnutrition is a result of having an unbalanced diet where nutrients may be lacking or over-eaten. Although most-readily associated with regions such as Africa and Asia, malnutrition also affects people in first-world countries such as America and Europe, making it a global problem.
The article linked-to above specifically talks about malnutrition in Niger. Created by a US governmental agency, it was created to not only inform people about the problem in Niger, but possibly figure out why it is happening, and how to keep it from happening any more. The publication cites data and various research conducted about the current levels of malnutrition in Niger, but the exact cause of it is unknown. The problem is not as simple as a large drought. The article suggests that Niger, like many other countries' malnutrition problems, is a result of many problems and very hard to fix: food intake and availability, healthcare access, nutritional intake and socio-economic status. Interestingly, it suggests that the problem in Niger is not one of famine, but a "crisis of access" (11).
As a whole, the article suggests increased monitoring of nutrition in Niger and basic programs to be initiated to alleviate the problem. However, the article says that it is not within the scope of the paper to discuss long-term solutions.
Although long-term solutions are needed to solve the problem, Doctors Without Borders is actively working in countries to help those in need of proper nutrition. In 2006, DWB treated 150,000 children for malnutrition, although UNICEF estimates that almost 20 million children suffer from the condition worldwide. Unique to DWB, they are trying to treat malnutrition with RUF's or, Ready to Use Food. The basic premise is that access to food is limited, which means access to doctors is also limited. So instead of making someone rely on seeing a doctor to treat their malnutrition, DWB is handing out RUF packages. Not needing refrigeration and already pre-packaged, RUF's store and transport easily while still providing all the nutrients and energy needed to form a healthy body.
I recently read that every three seconds, a child dies of malnutrition. There is obviously a need to spread awareness about this subject and opportunities for people to help.
ReplyDeleteAre RUF packages things that are accessible for citizens to send to people in need? What other simple solutions are there to help stop the growing rate of malnutrition?