Syllabus
GS Paper 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources; Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
Issues related to women and children
Malnutrition causes and solutions
Various government interventions like Public Distribution System, Mid day meal scheme, etc
Interlinkages between poverty, health and nutrition.
Context
This article delves into the complex interplay between micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron and vitamin A, and various health disorders, highlighting the multi-faceted approach needed to address this issue.
Source
The Indian Express | Editorial dated 29 January 2024
The burden of malnutrition
Malnutrition, a silent and insidious threat, stands as a formidable obstacle to India’s aspirations for a healthy and prosperous future. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is a deficiency or excess in nutrient intake, an imbalance of essential nutrients, or impaired nutrient utilization.
Two-way relationship between nutrition and health
It’s common knowledge that good nutrition is critical for overall health, but what’s not as well-known is the two-way relationship between nutritional deficiencies and certain disorders.
Consistent intake of food lacking in essential micronutrients can lead to iron deficiency anaemia and Vitamin A, and zinc deficiency, and impair immunity. Conversely, conditions such as celiac disease and infections like h. pylori or worm infestations can disturb the digestive system, leading to nutrient deficiencies.
Dimensions of Malnutrition in India:
India’s ranking in the Global Hunger Index 2023 is 111th out of the 125 countries with sufficient data to calculate scores. This score of 28.7 indicates a level of hunger that is “serious”. 18.7% of children under five are wasted, indicating acute malnutrition.16.6% of the population is undernourished.
- Widespread Prevalence: Despite economic progress, India grapples with alarming malnutrition rates.This translates to millions of young lives compromised, their physical and cognitive development hindered.
- Unequal Burden: The burden of malnutrition falls disproportionately on marginalized communities, including children, pregnant and lactating women, and those living in poverty-stricken regions. This inequity perpetuates a vicious cycle, where poor nutrition leads to impaired health, reduced productivity, and further vulnerability.
- Vicious cycle: Malnutrition caused by micronutrient deficiency has inter-generational impacts — anaemic mothers are known to give birth to anaemic babies.
Government Initiatives to fight malnutrition
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: To provide a package of integrated services for the holistic development of children under six years of age and their mothers.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan: Aims to achieve improvement in key nutrition parameters for both children and women.
- The focus of Abhiyaan is to lay emphasis on nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0-6 years age.
- The programme, through use of technology, convergence and community involvement with a targeted approach strives to reduce the level of stunning, under-nutrition, Anaemia and low birth weight in children, as also focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers, thus holistically addressing malnutrition.
- Mid-day Meal Scheme: To improve nutritional levels among school children and enhance their enrollment, retention, and attendance in schools. Provides hot, cooked meals to children in government and government-aided schools.
- National Food Security Act: To provide subsidized foodgrains to eligible households to ensure food security.
- Entitles eligible households to receive subsidized foodgrains at fair price shops.
- Covers pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children below six years of age
- Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): among the biggest targeted measures to tackle the disorder. It involves administering iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets and other prophylactic measures.
- Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF): It involves adding essential micronutrients like iron, vitamin A, iodine, and folic acid to staple foods consumed by a large population. This aims to improve nutritional intake and contribute to better health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Challenges in managing malnutrition
Despite government interventions challenges of effective implementation persist.
- Affordability issues : The bigger challenge is that about 46 per cent of South Asia’s population lacks access to an affordable balanced diet, as per FAO data. According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2023, around 74 per cent of India’s population could not afford a healthy diet, and 39 per cent fell short of a nutrient-adequate one.
- Lack of Awareness and Behavior Change: Limited knowledge about nutrition, inadequate dietary practices, and social norms can hinder the adoption of healthy behaviors.
- Inadequate Food Security: Insufficient food production, poor storage and distribution systems, and climate change contribute to food insecurity, limiting access to diverse and nutritious diets.
- Inefficient Public Health Systems: Weaknesses in service delivery, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices exacerbate malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Way Ahead
The burden of malnutrition is complex and needs to be addressed through multiple interventions.
- Multi-Sectoral Approach: Effective solutions require collaboration across sectors, including agriculture, health, education, and social welfare.
- Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: Promoting diversified and resilient agricultural practices can enhance food security and improve access to nutrient-rich foods.
- Nutrition Education and Behavior Change Communication: Raising awareness about healthy eating habits, promoting breastfeeding, and addressing social norms are essential for long-term behavior change.
- Multiple awareness strategies can be adopted to foster greater awareness. This includes utilising communication channels such as community radio, videos and door-to-door outreach.
- Targeted Interventions: Tailored programs focusing on vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and adolescent girls, can yield significant impact.
- Strengthening Public Health Systems: Expanding healthcare access, improving maternal and child health services, and promoting sanitation and hygiene practices are crucial.
Conclusion
Tackling malnutrition requires a multi-pronged approach that combines individual dietary changes, effective government interventions like LSFF and IEC campaigns, and community-based initiatives. Only through such comprehensive strategies can India break the cycle of malnutrition and ensure a healthier future for its citizens.
RELATED TOPICS
Global Hunger Index
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool that measures and tracks hunger globally, regionally, and by country. The GHI is calculated annually by the European NGOs of Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
The GHI captures three dimensions of hunger:
- Insufficient food availability
- Child nutritional status shortfalls
- Child mortality, which is largely attributable to undernutrition
The 2023 GHI score for the world is 18.3, which is considered moderate. This is less than one point below the 2015 GHI score of 19.1.
References:
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/malnutrition
https://poshanabhiyaan.gov.in/
Practice Question
Discuss the interconnectedness between micronutrient deficiencies and various health disorders. How can India tackle the burden of malnutrition? [250 words]