Ending Child Malnutrition Can Help End World Hunger

Every year, millions die because of hunger. According to WFP (World Food Programme), 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy life and majority of people facing this problem live in developing countries.

Poor nutrition is another reason for the rising number of hunger related deaths of children. Statistics reveal that 45% of children aged 5 or below die an untimely death because of starvation.

And the children who manage to avoid this fatal fate have to suffer malnourishment and its harmful effects throughout their lives.

Undernourishment is not just the reason for the increasing number of child deaths but, also a major reason behind cognitive and physical impairment of many children for the rest of their lives.

Undernourishment has the further adverse effect of reducing immunity levels of children, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases.

This problem does not end here! In fact, undernourishment travels from generation to generation. An undernourished mother gives birth to an undernourished baby. Her incapability to feed the baby properly makes her child deficient in various minerals in the body.

Undernourishment also forces children to start work at an early age to earn their living, which affects their education. Working at a very small age puts adverse effect on their health, which leads to malnutrition and many health issues in later life.

Poverty leads to malnutrition which leads to an unhealthy life which further perpetuates poverty. This vicious cycle traps people living in dire economic straits.

Therefore in order to end child malnutrition and to succeed in ending world hunger, the economic conditions of these people need to be improved through government and public support.

Numerous organizations are working together to put an end to child malnutrition, which is a major reason behind world hunger. These organizations are trying different methods like distributing food packets, spreading awareness among mothers about benefits of nutritious diet etc.and slowly but surely their efforts are bearing fruits.

Do You Know The Myths About World Hunger?

Hunger is a situation where people are undernourished due to the lack of food consumption. This lack is usually caused by poverty and the absence of food justice in society. Regardless of the reasons, it is the poor people who suffer because of hunger problems.

However, not many people know a lot about these problems. In addition, there are many myths about hunger issues. Some of these myths are discussed below –

Myth 1 – It is a problem that exists only in developing countries – Most people believe that it is a problem that exists only in developing countries. But, hunger is a big issue even in the developed countries like United States. According to the facts, many Americans cannot afford food for themselves or their families.

Poverty is the main reason behind their struggle. Many U.S. citizens rely on a food bank for meals. a world hunger organization for help.

Myth 2 – Farmers are not a victim of these issues – It is a misconception among people that farmers do not endure the hunger problems. However, it is not true. Many small farmers work on others’ farms and fields. All the crops and money belong to the land’s owner. In the end, small farmers usually do not have enough money to afford meals for their families.

They may play an essential role in food production, but small farmers are also a victim of hunger issue.

Myth 3 – Lack of food is the main reason behind these problems – Many people believe that the lack of food causes hunger issues worldwide, which is not true. There is enough food to feed everyone in world. But, lots of food goes to waste due to improper distribution. On the other hand, many individuals cannot even afford eatables due to poverty and lack of income.

Myth 4 – Forests have nothing to do with the world hunger – Forests and these issues are two different things in many people’s opinions. But, forests can play an essential role in ending these problems. Woods can provide nutritious food items for individual who cannot purchase processed eatables.

It is vital to quell these myths with facts and information, so that more actions are taken in the direction of solving hunger problems.

How Hunger Organizations Are Working To End World Hunger

Did you know that millions of people in world are malnourished? Do you know how many people go to bed hungry every night all around the world? Answers of these questions are troubling to say the least. However, many hunger organizations, groups or societies are working towards ending the hunger issues in the world. But, how these organizations are working to end hunger problems? By the following methods –

By providing food – These groups provide food to those people who cannot afford a healthy and nutritious meal. They provide meals through food pantries, emergency shelters, soup kitchens and more. They distribute healthy and nutritious meals to poor. However, these groups usually depend on donations to feed more hungry people. Their work is not limited to just a country. They work to end this problem all around the world.  They also provide financial assistance to poor people, so that they can afford food.

By increasing awareness about this subject – These organizations are working to increase the awareness about hunger issues worldwide. They bring issues like malnutrition in children, poverty, food crisis, agriculture problems etc., into light and in the public eye. For this purpose, they organize various types of events. Many of these societies also take help from celebrities to increase awareness about this subject among public. They also encourage social movements that work in the direction of ending hunger issues.

By encouraging more people to join – These organizations encourage more and more people to join the fight against hunger. For this purpose, they organize events where people can volunteer. These organizations help individuals learn about the seriousness of these problems worldwide. They educate individuals about this subject and encourage them to play their part in this fight.

By influencing policies – These groups also work to influence policies so that more work is done in the direction of ending hunger issues. To ensure food justice and sovereignty, they support social movements. Support of the public helps organizations in influencing public policy, so that more poor and hungry people can get nutritious food.

What Role Do Relief Organizations Play?

Many national and global hunger relief organizations have been able to reduce the problem of hunger spread in the United States. Why Hunger is one of the foremost organizations that are working towards this goal.

How Planting Trees Can Help In Ending World Hunger?

Over the years, many solutions have been suggested by experts to end hunger worldwide. It includes food sovereignty, giving attention to small farmers, focus on underfed children, food justice, and more. Planting trees is one of these solutions that aim to ending world hunger.

But, how planting trees can help in eliminating the issue of world hunger? Answer is –

It plays an important part in food production – Trees can play a major role in food production. One can get healthy fruits from woods, which are an essential source of nutrients. Even those people who cannot afford other eatables can get fruits from nearby forests. Seasonal fruits can provide a variety of vitamins and minerals. It is an effective method of ending hunger.

There are many communities worldwide who heavily depend on forests for their food. In addition, forests are also a source of products like honey, seeds, gum Arabic and more. They can be a source of eatables even in the difficult times like draught.

It has a major effect on global environment – It is a well-known fact that trees and forests have a major effect on the global environment.
 They can help in reducing global warming, which is causing many natural disasters all around the world. These disasters affect food production and cause shortage of food. Forests can be helpful in preventing natural disasters like flooding, which ruins the crops of many farmers.

Trees help in absorbing water in soil effectively removing excess water from the surface and reducing the chances of flood. For poor farmers, it provides a chance to save their crops and increase food production. It helps in nearing the goal of ending hunger.

It helps in preserving essential resources – Trees can help in preserving essential resources like wood, and more. People who cannot afford other resources can depend on forests to provide resources like firewood and fruits. Furthermore, trees help in preserving ground water by absorbing it during rain. One can use this water for crops and drinking. In draughts, these water resources save many lives.

Many people sell forest products to earn money. It includes products like gum Arabic, seeds, fruits, honey etc. It can help in improving their financial situation, so that they can afford food.

However, just one solution or method alone cannot end world hunger. All methods should be used together for this purpose. Focus on small farmers and malnourished generations along with planting trees can get desired results.

Eradicating World Hunger Still a Distant Dream

In 1991, the world’s nations committed themselves to a target of reducing the percentage of undernourished people in the world to half by 2015. As the end of 2015 draws near, it bears taking stock to see what progress we have made as regards world hunger.

Statistics provided by NGO’s and Government bodies committed to coming up with and applying world hunger solutions, confirm that the percentage of people suffering from and succumbing to hunger has indeed been reduced by a wide margin during the last two decades.

But these figures also make it clear that there is still a long way to go and the world is by no means ‘in the clear’ as far as hunger and undernourishment go.  A review of these facts and figures also brings to fore the deplorable conditions that many children in the developing world have to suffer and the appalling number of children who succumb to an empty stomach each year. The need to create concrete strategies to end childhood hunger and apply them swiftly is dire.

In the modern world where many of us are enjoying the benefits of technological and medical marvels, millions are dying as a consequence of lack of sustenance. The very basic amenities of human existence are denied them.

An alarming number of people (almost a billion!) still suffer from the detrimental effects of hunger. By a substantial margin, the worst hit geographical region in this respect is the Asia – Pacific, with every 2 out of 3 people suffering from undernourishment residing in this region. It is hardly surprising since the majority of the world’s population inhabits this part of the world.

Although efforts in the last twenty years have greatly reduced the percentage of undernourished people in the world, the dream of a hunger free world is still distant. The prime contributor as always to the hunger problem is poverty. Hence the stark difference between the number of the undernourished in the developed and developing world.

In a globalised world, international economic policies, more than ever, affect the fortunes of all nations. And more often than not these policies are bent to the will of the powerful and wealthy countries.

It falls upon the political and economic leaders of the world then, to create and impose policies that will uplift the world’s poor and continue the fight against world hunger.

Though many agencies, both government and private, are conducting efficient programs to reduce the problem still, there is a long way to go before the world can sleep with a full stomach.

Why It Is A High Time To Bring An End To Child Hunger And Poverty?

Hunger and poverty are two things that are indirectly connected to each other. Especially if we talk about child hunger then poverty is somehow breaking the cycle, as it is becoming difficult to fulfill basic needs of the children.

More than half of world population is influenced by poverty and in due to this they are lacking behind from getting proper nutrition, basic education, health care, etc.

The initial stage of child’s life is very crucial, as child develops in all aspect that includes physical, intellectual and emotional development. Therefore, we all need to take some initiative to bring an end to hunger and poverty, as it is high time for this.

Following are some possible ways to poverty that will automatically eradicate hunger-

Good nutrition-the steps should be taken to provide food to those who are worst effected by malnutrition. This initiative can be taken either by funding or by helping countries to provide micro nutrient that is essentially for immune system to remain healthy. Numerous organizations have come forward to take an initiative so you can join hands with them to give your good work. These organizations include UNICEF, government and private sector organizations.

Food donation- donating the leftover food can be a good initiative taken by you. If you are actively donating both cash and food, then it can leave a big impact to remove world hunger and poverty.

Educating- the other thing that you can do is by spreading knowledge among people. Education is the greatest weapon to eradicate poverty and hunger especially in underdeveloped countries. Education means better opportunity and more access to income and food.

Birth control education- the main problem that world is facing is population. It is directly affecting poverty and hunger. Many people are not educated about birth control measures or do not avail contraceptives. Therefore, right education should be given to people, which will indirectly reduce poverty and automatically will reduce hunger.

Poverty has contributed a lot to malnutrition. This in turn leaves to maximum deaths in developing countries.  Many children go to bed starving every day. Therefore, if we implement above ways can help to reduce poverty and hunger in a bigger way.

What Are The Top Possibilities Of Eradicating Childhood Hunger?

Food is the basic amenity for everyone to survive. However, regardless of the fact there are many people especially children who have been going through hard times surviving without food. 

If a person remains hungry, then it can affect them physically including children. It can devastate them if proper nutrition is not given to them, as for one’s development it is necessary to intake proper nutrition.

Nowadays, it has come into seen that due to child hunger children are lacking behind proper growth whether physically or mentally and this is putting the world at risk of losing upcoming youth. To overcome these situations, we need to fight against hunger by finding possibilities of eradicating it.

Apparently, possibilities are countless but it would take time to come into existence. We also need to look for sustainable solutions to eradicate the cause, work on certain projects that would help much, and lift awareness among every individual.

Following are some of the approaches that we can follow and use them to put an end to childhood hunger-

Using surplus food –there are large quantity of surplus food that is left over by the school mid day meals, restaurants, entertainment places, hotels etc. people instead of utilizing the food for noble cause throw them away. This is something that should be stopped. One should conduct special events so that you can give the food to the needy or to food banks and community kitchens.

Organizing Fundraisers-the other way out is to collect money. By collecting money, one is able to buy food tat bulk of discounts hat can be distributed at various places. This kind of strategy works a lot, as you can buy the food that is most required and liked by them.

Healthy cooking- the main motive of every parent is to provide maximum nutrition to their children so that their physical growth is not harmed. However, it becomes difficult for some to provide such facility to their children, as they have to look at their budget also. The only way out left is that the parents and kids should find ways to improve the quality of food made so that they intake proper nutrition that is essential.
By organizing sessions at community centers, or some useful places can do the job.

Plantation- the best way is to indulge yourself and children to do maximum plantation in the gardens around your place for starving children. However, before doing that one need to gain proper knowledge about plantation, which can be a great help to the starving kids.

What Is Malnutrition And Various Facts Associated With It?

Poor nutrition causes deficiency in children’s body that lead to nearly half of deaths and approx.795 million people in the world are malnourished.

People when starve or not get nourished food suffer from malnutrition. Food should contain proper amounts of micro nutrients – vitamins, minerals and more, which are necessity of body.

People facing malnourishment often find difficulty in physical activities, growth, and development of body. For pregnant women malnutrition causes risk in their pregnancy.

Disease and malnutrition are associated with each other. Result of malnutrition can also cause even death. According to the UN's Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN), malnutrition is the biggest reason behind increasing number of diseases in the world.

Types of malnutrition that becomes the major cause of death every year-

Iron deficiency- This is most commonly found in millions of people worldwide. Iron in body plays an important role of carrying oxygen in the blood. Deficiency of iron leads to tiredness in doing work. Cognitive development in children is also hampered because of the deficiency of iron. According to UNICEF report, approx. 40-60 percent of children aging 6-24 months are suffering from Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency.

Vitamin A- Deficiency of vitamin A increases risk of diarrhea, measles, and malaria. It can also further lead to death. Approx. 20-24 percent of people are suffering from vitamin A malnutrition. According to statistics, 140 million children going to preschool and seven million plus pregnant women suffer from child blindness.

Iodine deficiency- Malnutrition of iodine causes thyroid gland called a goiter, which has affected 780 million people worldwide. It has also caused adverse effects on the brain because for proper brain development iodine is must in body. According to researches, 20 million children are suffering from this deficiency. Pregnant women give birth to children with mental issues like mental retardation and physical stunting because they did not consume enough iodine.

Zinc deficiency- It affects growth and weakens immune system in children. It may also cause higher risk of diarrhea and pneumonia. According to reports, nearly 800,000 deaths per year caused because of Zinc deficiency.

To end hunger worldwide, many organizations have taken world hunger solutions. They ensure children get proper nutrition and proper education.

Top Four Ways To End World Hunger

Hunger is one of serious issue that the whole world is facing today and with the increase in number of deaths due to hunger, time has come to take necessary action against hunger to end the world hunger.

However, there are number of ways that can help us to find against hunger for our better future. Some of them are-

1. Stop food wastage-Every year around billions of good and quality food is wasted. Moreover, studies reveal that about 40 percent of the food is filling landfills instead of ending the hunger of number of people around us. Therefore, wastage of food has to stop and make efforts to provide food to all those people or communities that are in need.

2. Agroecology- change in climate is one of the biggest issues that are leading to shortage of food worldwide. Because of our current food production, which is not ecology, there is a need to shift towards Agroecology. Agroecology is a way to protect land, water and the environment. Through this way, one can meet the rapid increase in the food requirements within environment friendly features.

3. Protection of land, seed, and water-These days due to increasing number of government actions, a number of communities is losing acres of valuable land. Apart from land, water is also considered a major component that helps in ending the world hunger. Access to safe drinking water is everyone’s right and moreover, nutrition and food security are deeply connected to water. Therefore, it becomes very important to protect land, save seeds and conserve water to fight against the world hunger.

4. Volunteer-one can also participates as an active volunteer and provide help and support to different organizations in taking necessary actions to end the world hunger.  Volunteering is a new ways and as a volunteer you also require some special skills such as accounting, social media, website development, etc. you can also take help from different people who are already working with the organizations to know more about them.

Ending the world hunger as soon as possible is very important. Therefore the aforementioned are the top four most effective ways that can help to end and fight against hunger.

Reason Behind World Hunger And Key To End It

Every year majority of people die because of hunger. Be it poor, big or developing countries, this has become a major concern for all. Malnutrition is the reason behind it and approximately 45% of children have been affected by it. 

Malnutrition is of multiple types-

Protein energy- Lack of protein in diet causes numerous deaths. Children usually suffer from this deficiency. It is of two type kwashiorkor and marasmus. Deficiency of protein energy affects liver, swelling to ankles and feet.

Micro nutrients- Deficiency of micronutrients like calcium, iodine, selenium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, Vitamin B1 & D, and more affects health of large population. It can lead to severe health conditions like Rickets, Pellagra, Keshan disease etc.

Hence, it is necessary for people of all age group and pregnant ladies to consume all the important nutrients that will help them keep healthy.

While undernourishment causes death but it might also cause sufferings to children in later life. Cognitive and physical impairment are major sufferings that they might have to face rest of their lives. Their bodies are not immune to fight against infections, diseases etc. As compared to other healthy children, they are more prone to diseases, which make them weak.

Reason of undernourishment could be any like deficiency of food essentials, undernourished mother, genetic factor and more.

Education of children is hampered because of undernourishment. Their cognitive skills are underdeveloped that affects their future.

In many countries, children are made to work from an early age, work hard for their living, subsequently, which do not allow them to concentrate on their diet and causes malnutrition health issue.

However, if emphasis is given on end of malnutrition, large amount of lives can be saved and there will be end to world hunger. This will provide proper nutrition to children that will help them live a healthy life.

In addition to this, it also allow them pursue proper education and grab good job opportunities or settle by doing a business.

Besides all these factors, poverty is also the reason behind hunger. A step towards ending poverty can help end world hunger too. End to all these things ensure that children will live a healthy life. There are many world hunger organizations that work to end child hunger and provide a good quality life to children.

This step has proven to be bliss as half of the malnourished population worldwide has ended.

Malnutrition – A Multi-Faced Monster Eating Generations From Inside!

Malnutrition is one of the biggest consequences of world hunger. It is the condition when an individual does not get enough food or nutrients. It can be a result of hunger, poverty or any other reason. A medical condition can also lead to it. Malnutrition affects an individual’s physical and mental abilities as well as overall development.

But, did you know that it is not limited to just one type? Are you aware of the fact that malnutrition has multiple types?

Here are some of the major kinds of malnutrition –

Protein energy – In this type, an individual lacks the sufficient amount of calorie or protein in their diet. It kills numerous people worldwide every year. Children are at a higher risk of getting this kind of malnourishment. There are two further kinds of this malnutrition, kwashiorkor and marasmus. The latter one is the result of energy deficiency due to which, an individual loses lots of weight. Kwashiorkor is another kind in which a person suffers protein deficiency. It can result into an enlarged liver, swelling of the ankles and feet etc.

Micro nutrients – This is another type of malnutrition which affects people on a large number. It is the situation in which individuals suffer due to the lack of micro nutrients. It includes different kinds of dietary vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iodine, selenium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, Vitamin B1 & D, and more. These deficiencies can lead to different types of medical conditions like Rickets, Pellagra, Keshan disease etc. It is a result of individual’s diet lacking of necessary vitamins and mineral.

However, above mentioned various types of malnutrition show that it is a multi-faced monster that eats generations from the inside. Not only it affects individuals but also their children and generations to come.

But, how it affects generations?

A malnourished mother is likely to give birth to a low birth-weight child. Without proper food or nutrition, their children are also likely to become malnourished. So, it travels from generations to generations. It is a painful cycle that should be stopped. Ending world hunger is the only solution to end this cycle.

Only by ending hunger worldwide and providing nutritious food to everyone, the monster of malnutrition can be defeated. People must get necessary nutrients, which can prevent any kind of deficiency or disease by improving immunity.

How Ending Child Malnutrition Is Helpful In Ending World Hunger?

Did you know that every year, hunger kills more people than diseases like malaria and AIDS? It is becoming one of the major concerns all around the world. However, poor countries are not the only ones that are facing the problem of hunger. Even the big and developing countries including Asian nations are facing malnutrition related issues.

Nevertheless, did you know that malnutrition is one of the biggest reasons behind the death of children under the age of 5. This percentage is almost 45%. This fact shows the amount of lives could be saved if child malnutrition is ended. It also shows how ending child malnutrition can be very helpful in ending world hunger. How? Answer is –

Undernourishment affects not only the childhood, but also the later life. They suffering from it are likely to face various problems such as cognitive and physical impairment for the rest of their lives. Their bodies are not strong enough to fight off infections, diseases etc. They are more prone to diseases, which leaves them vulnerable. Undernourishment can even travel from generations to generations as an undernourished mother is likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight.

Undernourishment also affects children’s education as they work to earn money and purchase food in many countries. Working from an early age forces them towards the hard work. It also leads to malnutrition as they are never properly fed.

However, if child malnutrition ends, it would a big step towards ending world hunger. Ending this misfortunate situation can ensure that children receive proper nutrition, get proper education. They can make a life for themselves by getting proper jobs or business since they are well fed and educated too. Since hunger is also connected with poverty, ending poverty (with proper jobs) can help in ending world hunger too.

In addition, it can also ensure that the next generation is free from the curse of undernourishment. If every child gets proper nutrition, hunger problem for probably half of the hungry and malnourished population (if not more) might end worldwide.

There are many organizations that are working in the field of world hunger relief. Even these organizations put pressure on ending child malnutrition since it could be the key to end world hunger.

How Empowerment Of Small Scale Farmers Holds The Key To Ending World Hunger?

Did you know that more than nine hundred million people around the world suffer from undernourishment every day?

Who holds the key to this problem? Small scale and family farmers!

Worldwide, small-scale farmers play an important role in the overall production of grain. They also hold the key to changing international agricultural conditions. A big success in ending world hunger can be achieved by making small changes in their lives.

Small-scale farmers use more environment friendly techniques to grow crops. They preserve the natural resources effectively, balancing with the nature.

According to the United Nations, small-scale farmers require necessary agricultural attention from the government and the many hunger organizations, in order to empower the cause of hunger relief.

Today, small farmers all around the world are facing issues like: climate change, debt, crop diseases and more. Insufficient finances and lack of resources threatens their survival.

These issues are demoralizing them to continue with agriculture, which can result in lesser food production. This is why it is essential to encourage and support small-scale farmers.

Supporting these farmers will help them in–

• Increasing food production
• Increasing food justice, security and sovereignty
• Eliminate poverty
• Environmental protection

Increased grain production will lead to food justice and sovereignty. Numerous organizations and groups that are fighting against world hunger are also working to support small-scale farmers in different ways.

These groups also organize workshops for agriculturalists, where they can learn new agricultural techniques and aspects to better their productivity.