Post-Covid, there is a worry about malnutrition among poor children. The Smile India Trust Organization is dedicated to reducing malnutrition in the Delhi/NCR region.
If we compare India’s condition with a few poorer suburban African countries, according to the latest National Health Survey, the percentage of children who are underweight for their height is 19.3%.
India is growing in every area, but we will never be a top power if we continue to struggle with malnutrition. The socioeconomic difficulties faced in poor areas make worsen the malnourishment problem. It is the highest number of malnourished children around the globe.
Malnourished pregnant women and babies and children are the most sensitive victims. Numerous studies have shown that has been unrecoverable just after the age of two. So, if we are to cure childhood malnourishment, we must take important steps in this direction.
It is experiencing a 4% decline in GDP growth as a result of hunger, preventing socio-economic development.
There is a common mistake that malnutrition only refers to being “undernourished,” but you might be surprised to learn that it also includes being “overnourished.”
Undernutrition results in a short stature for your age. This means it is the most frightening form because you cannot gain height or weight. It is not changeable in physical and mental health damage that can be passed down to future generations.
Smile India Trust Organization Sharing Impact of Malnutrition on Children’s Development
- Reduce muscle health & fatigue
- The immune system doesn’t work
- Poor fertility and
- Poor socio-economic status
Smile India Trust Organization: Hope for Malnourished Children
Our NGO understands the importance of nutrition and the dangers that malnourished children encounter. Moreover, They are more open to infections, have less energy, and have less power. Therefore, This position needs more attention and a more universal approach to be resolved, including proper nutrition for pregnant women for a year.
Smile India Trust Organization is aware of the slum areas where children are in bad condition. Mainly focused on their nutrition, and divide our work in a systematic manner with 4 A’s.
- Awareness:
- Action
- Access
- Advocacy
Altogether, we are helping 168 community health volunteers, with a balanced diet, nutrition, hygiene, food production, and other topics. Understanding how serious it is to give good nutrients to slum children. The most serious threat to living in slums is malnutrition.
Energy malnutrition, anemia, and vitamin D deficiency are all examples of nutritional issues. A deficiency still affects a large number of children. The nutrition level in urban slums is shameful.
Nevertheless, we can see that the urban movement has not improved and has not provided them with a way out of poverty. However, Our NGO is doing the best work for slum children and mothers by giving them food on a daily basis.
Altogether we have even collaborated with Amazon Noida for the poor children, introducing many activities with them and giving them food in order to brighten their day and bring smiles to the faces of this little sunshine. We take every action possible to help them.
To ensure food hygiene, we have our own kitchen where food is prepared for them while keeping their hygiene in mind. Malnutrition is caused by various factors, including poor infant feeding habits, food and health security, and poor environmental conditions.
Smile India Trust Organization: Discussing India’s Positioning in the Hunger Index
In the global hunger index, India’s position is 107 out of 121 countries with a score of 29.1 and falls under the serious area. We are even behind Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
The Global Hunger Index is a tool to track hunger at the global and local levels. Global Hunger Index based on 4 indicators.
- The population whose calorie intake is insufficient.
- Children who have low height for their age.
- Children under the age of 5 have low height for their age.
- The morality of those under the age of 5 years.
It is unfortunate that India, a newly developing power, is the only country in South Asia that has a better position than Afghanistan. India has the highest child wasting rate, at 19.3%, which is higher than last year, and undernutrition has increased to 16.3%.
Global Nutrition Report 2020
The Global Nutrition Report a drive started to end malnutrition in all forms. During the Global health assembly in 2012, 6 goals were set to remove malnutrition by 2025…
- 40% reduction in reduce of height under the age of five.
- Achieve a 50% reduction in anemia in reproductive-age women;
- 30% reduction in low birth weight; and no increase in childhood obesity.
- Increase the rate of breastfeeding to at least 50% in the first 6 months.
- reduce and keep childhood waste to less than 5%
Government Initiative
To fight malnutrition, the government designed a three-phase strategy. The Public Distribution System will provide grain allowance to the poor, allowing them to purchase food. Therefore, the second phase includes Integrated Child Development Services in Anganwadi centers for children aged 6 months to 3 years and morning snacks for children aged 3 to 6 years. Women and Child Development are in charge of this program. In the third phase, students are provided with a midday meal program at school.
India’s PM while talking to World Economic Forum 2018 announced India to be $ 5 trillion by 2025 which seems impossible with 38.5% under 5 years of age children and 35.8% underweight.
The government has launched PoshanAbhiyan in 2018 with the aim to remove malnutrition by 2022. But in spite of this initiative, we are lacking behind
We believe that malnutrition at a young age is critical in order to take the necessary steps to remove its harmful effect in the near future. Hunger has a greater impact and increases the risk of disease spreading.
To get updates about our activities around Delhi/ NCR follow the Smile India Trust organization’s Facebook page. Visit our page https://smileindiatrust.org/ to know more about us.