Africa And Child Malnutrition: A Worrying Situation

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Africa and child malnutrition: a worrying situation

Introduction.

When we talk about malnutrition, the first continent that comes to mind is Africa, and unfortunately it is not arbitrary the direction that takes our cavilation because this region has had to suffer a lot either by droughts or political instability that have led it to be Where is, keeping in that status quo many years.

In this work we will analyze the indices, the causes of malnutrition and as they relate to the economic level of families, help by UNICEF and how to solve this problem. But, we first define some terms for the correct understanding of the text.

First, malnutrition that according to WHO:

“Malnutrition includes growth delay (height lower than the one corresponding to age), emaciation (weight lower than that corresponding to height), weight insufficiency (weight lower than that corresponding to age) and the deficiencies or deficiencies or deficiencies or Micronutrient insufficiencies (lack of important vitamins and minerals) ”(WHO, 2016)

Second, a term that lies in the previous definition, this is “emaciation is defined as a low weight relationship for height” (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 2018), which is an indicator of risk of death for children who suffer. Now, then understanding these concepts let’s see how emaciation and growth delay are repeated ailments in children in the study region.

Developing.

Child malnutrition: emaciation.

In accordance with the UNAA: of the 50.5 million children who suffer emaciation in the world, there is a “quarter in sub -Saharan Africa” (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 2018). But as we are going to see, there is also a clear difference between the inhabitants of Africa, which is determined by the level of families. This is clearly visible in the Enlightenment 1, which shows us that “in three of five sub -regions of Africa, the poorest children present significantly higher emaciation rates – almost twice the high in Eastern Africa – compared to the richest rich ”United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Child malnutrition: growth delay

In many regions of the world, growth delay has decreased, but this is not the case of Africa, according to FAO: “In 2017, Africa and Asia had more than nine out of ten children of the total number of children with delayed Growth worldwide, which represents 39% and 55% respectively ”(United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 2018). Plus his hegemonic partner in terms of malnutrition (Asia) has a fundamental difference: which is decreasing its affected population “Africa has registered an ascending trend in the number of children with growth delay, while Asia has registered the greatest relative decrease in the prevalence of growth delay ".

General causes of malnutrition:

UNICEF divides into three types:

  1. Basic causes: those that are related to political and economic issues are. For example, the richer is a nation its inhabitants will be entitled to better nutrition, countries like Israel, Japan and Switzerland are the clear example of this because they lead these indices. Therefore, this first trigger encompasses: poverty, inequality and the low education of mothers.
  2. Underlying causes: These are the causes of the immediate causes, that is, it is a previous step to the last mentioned and that its relationship is of a direct proportionality. They are the impossibility of acquiring food, insufficient sanitation (harmful to health), little health care and unhealthy water.
  3. Immediate causes: they are inappropriate food and the existence of infections and diseases. In the case of Africa, the impact of HIV AIDS disease is very strong, because: "More than two thirds of all people with HIV live in the WHO Africa region (25.7 million)" becoming a catalyst of bad nutrition.

Specific causes of malnutrition in Africa.

In accordance with UNICEF, the following are the preponderant causes of malnutrition in this region: climate change and its effect on the drought of half a century. The food price increase. The repercussions of the war conflict in Somalia. One of the greatest refugee flows from Somalia to Kenya and Ethiopia. Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

Help to combat this gigantic monster.

  • The case of Somalia:

2011 by UNICEF “between January and May it has been treated for more than 100.000 malnourished children in 800 therapeutic centers; And support has been supported 449 supplementary feeding programs and 72 maternal childhood nutrition A multisectoral plan to help vulnerable families.

  • The case of Ethiopia:

2011 by UNICEF “between January and April it was 78.100 malnourished children, 1 were distributed.205 tons of therapeutic foods ready to use and 460 new centers of the therapeutic food program were created ”in this case the biggest problem was drought, even so this NGO together with the Government put into practice the plan in order to improve the quality of life of the residents.

  • In the case of Kenya:

The "UNICEF is facilitating anthropometric equipment to measure acute malnutrition and is providing therapeutic foods to treat it", however, this action was hindered by the large number of somali refugees that arrived.

  • In the case of Yibuti:

In spite.000 children with malnutrition, have supplied water to 30 communities (about 25.000 people) and increased immunization programs ”.

  • Niger’s case:

Thanks to the drought to food crisis, inadequate food practices and insufficient access to health services. UNICEF and the Government, after a study, worked together in a plan where the center was the community.

Children were able to receive treatments in their homes. These were made with several products, including the traditional ones: compounds enriched with flour, as well as oil -based food supplements. In addition to that, the great demand for these products caused a local factory to be put.

Ways to end child malnutrition according to UNICEF.

1. Access to health care: making routine reviews to the child of weight and height helps determine whether or not a malnourished, ergo can reduce the malnutrition rate in this way.

two. Instruction of mothers and fathers: "It is proven that teaching parents what foods they have at their disposal are more beneficial for their children helps to fight malnutrition" (UNICEF, 2020)

3. Therapeutic food: it is a paste based on peanut concentrate that anyone can do at home and that “it is estimated that 3 out of 4 children with severe acute malnutrition can recover in their homes with this preparation” (UNICEF, 2020).

4. Access to water and sanitation: it is necessary to have the best sanitation to prevent and/or treat diseases, which are one of the leading causes of the child malnutrition issue.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, due to the large amount of population affected by this phenomenon, the eradication of malnutrition in Africa will be a very long job, mainly because the conditions in which people live do not allow the product of the aid to maintain. In summary, the support of the parents is extremely necessary so that the plans of the different NGOs that are carried out have the maximum possible efficacy both as a help. Finally, it is pertinent that governments ally with the NGOs of help so that more demographic amount can be achieved and thus stabilize the situation of malnutrition.

Bibliography

  • WHO. (July 2016). What is malnutrition? Obtained from World Health Organization: https: // www.quien.int/features/qa/malnutrition/es/
  • WHO. (November 15, 2019). HIV AIDS. Obtained from World Health Organization: https: // www.quien.INT/ES/NEWS-OOM/FACT-SHEETS/DETAIL/HIV-AIDS
  • United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (2018). The state of food security in the world. (C. Holleman, ed.) Rome Italy. Retrieved on January 12, 2020, from http: // www.FAO.org/3/i9553es/i9553es.PDF
  • UNICEF. (2011). Child malnutrition causes, consequences and strategies for prevention and treatment. Madrid: UNICEF Spain.
  • UNICEF. (2020). 5 ways to end child malnutrition. Obtained from UNICEF: https: // www.UNICEF.It is/Blog/5-Forms-de-Acabar-Con-La-DeSnutrition-Infantil

 

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