MALNUTRITION: A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling child malnutrition. SCF report

February, 2012
What are the causes of malnutrition, the solutions, and the politics? This report sets out six steps to tackle the crisis.


The world has enough food for everyone, but millions of children face a life sentence of hunger and malnutrition – the hidden reason so many die.
This report analyses the causes of malnutrition, focusing on chronic malnutrition and stunting in children. It identifies solutions that are proven to be effective:
direct interventions, such as exclusive breastfeeding, micronutrient supplementation and fortification
indirect interventions, such as introducing social protection programmes, and adapting agricultural production to meet the nutritional needs of children.
Crucially, this report then examines the political factors that contribute to the global burden of hunger and malnutrition.
Action must be taken now to prevent the crisis deteriorating and even more children suffering the life-long consequences. This report recommends how governments, multilateral agencies, business and individuals can play their part in tackling the problem – and help give every child a life free from hunger.
This report is accompanied by a series of country briefings on tackling child malnutrition in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.
Save the Children also commissioned a poll in five countries experiencing high rates of malnutrition - India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru and Bangladesh. It gives a snapshot of the hardship that families are facing.
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/resources/online-library/life-free-hunger-tackling-child-malnutrition

MALNUTRITION: Save the Children reports more than six million children are vulnerable to malnutrition and life threatening diseases as a result of the

August 10, 2010
Save the Children reports more than six million children are vulnerable to malnutrition and life threatening diseases as a result of the floods in Pakistan having lost their homes and in many cases being separated from their families.
A shortage of food and soaring food prices are beginning to add to the misery with the price of essential food items skyrocketing over the past week because of supply disruptions, and damage to crops. Basic food items such as flour, sugar, potato, cooking oil, fruit, onion, ginger, and garlic have either disappeared from the market or are available at almost double the price.
‘The most urgent challenge is to ensure food supplies and restore transportation networks to accelerate the delivery of desperately needed aid,’ said Mohammed Qazilbash, Save the Children’s spokesperson in Pakistan.
Meanwhile over 2000 schools have been damaged by the floods and several hundred schools have been converted into life-saving shelters.
‘The scale of damage to schools is quite massive and the education of the country’s children has been put into jeopardy,’ said Mr Qazilbash.
‘The new academic year was scheduled to begin this week, but the government has postponed this until early September. As many schools have been converted into shelters, there is a need to ensure that school premises are not damaged.’
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1008/S00149/malnutrition-and-deadly-diseases-threaten-children.htm