A proper nutritious meal is necessary for every individual, especially for children during their growing years. Nutrition is a cornerstone of a child's growth and development. As parents, caregivers, and educators, understanding nutrition's vital role in a child's life is crucial for ensuring their overall well-being and potential for a bright future. Proper nutrition is the foundation for a child's physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Many children in a country like India sleep on an empty stomach without a proper meal. Thus, resulting in threatening health issues and diseases.
To reach their maximum developmental potential, children must have a healthy diet. Critical effects on physical and cognitive growth and development result from undernutrition. Malnutrition impairs immunity, retards cognitive and behavioural development, impairs early physical growth, increases morbidity and mortality, and delays the development of motor, mental, and motor abilities.
Child malnutrition is one of the most significant issues in India and worldwide. Almost one out of six children does not have enough food to lead a healthy and active life. On a global level, hunger and malnutrition combined present the primary risk factor for an individual’s health. Children below the age of 5 years are underweight in India due to acute or chronic food shortages. Hence, they suffer from various developmental issues. From Infancy, the right amount of macronutrients such as protein, fat and carbohydrates and micronutrients like Vitamin A, iodine, iron, and zinc should be provided. Breastmilk for infants even till the age of 5 is considered a good source of proteins. For adolescents and children, vegetables, fruits and milk are also considered nutritional.
Undernutrition or Malnutrition deprives one’s body of energy to sustain itself. Especially in children, they may have stunted growth and development. It shuts down the immune system, which makes it highly prone to illness and infection. Weakness, loss of appetite, low heart rate, and low blood pressure are certain symptoms. Severe conditions would be marasmus and kwashiorkor which is a result of particular vitamin deficiency.
To fight this malnutrition, the Indian Government has implemented certain schemes like Mid-day meals; to provide hot cooked meals free of charge in schools for children within the age group of six to fourteen years. Integrated Child Development Services Scheme; provides a package of six services namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services.
According to the World Health Organization, Globally in 2020, 149 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted (too short for age), and 45 million were estimated to be wasted (too thin for height). Around 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. These mostly occur in low- and middle-income countries. The developmental, economic, social, and medical impacts of the global burden of malnutrition are serious and lasting, for individuals and their families, for communities and countries.
Child Help Foundation, along with Filaantro since its inception, has always dedicated itself to contributing to eradicating malnutrition and hunger problems. The organization ensures no child dies of starvation and is fighting malnutrition in most affected tribal pockets. By treating malnutrition, providing excellent health, and collaborating with adolescent and women's groups, it aims to reduce newborn and child mortality.
Various organizations and donors have always come forward to support the cause. The organization also provides free meals at various locations in the country for underprivileged children so that they can have an educational and active healthy life. Apart from this, Child Help Foundation has distributed multivitamin tablets to pregnant and lactating women and vitamin A supplements to children. To date, 20,01,457 children have benefitted through the Zero Hunger program and 25,117 people have benefited from the Good Health and Well-being program.
Proper nutrition is more than just satisfying hunger, it is about providing the essential building blocks for a child's future. Child Help Foundation is dedicated to promoting better nutrition and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Let's work together to nourish our children and create a brighter, healthier tomorrow.