Save the Children warn about the global malnutrition crisis

Almost half a billion children are at risk of permanent physical and mental growth damage over the next 15 years due to malnutrition, Save the Children warn in their latest report entitled “A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition”. 
  
The report called chronic malnutrition a hidden crisis, which affects one in four children around the world. Lack of nutritious food over time weakens children’s immune systems and prevents their bodies and brains from developing properly. It also makes children much more vulnerable to disease and reduces their chances of survival during a food crises, such as the recent famine in the Horn of Africa. In total, malnutrition is the cause behind 2,6 million children deaths every year.
  
According to Save the Children, global progress on reducing malnutrition has been very slow during the last two decades, falling at an average rate of only 0.65 percentage points per year since 1990. The situation could be worsened by the ongoing economic crises, climate change, constantly increasing food prices and demographic growth in the world’s poorest regions.
   
Africa today counts 15 million more stunted children in Africa than two decades ago. Remarkable progress in combating malnutrition has been observed in Saudi Arabia, China, Brazil and Mexico – countries which have experienced strong economic growth and implemented social protection programs in recent years.
  
The report suggests that the problem of malnutrition must be made more visible so that governments are forced to act. It also stresses the need for more health care workers and support to small-scale farmers.


Download the full report