Nutrition is a vital public health measure that impacts children daily. As an educator, I see hungry children daily. It is fortunate, in the United States and in public schools that there are programs that sponsor needy children and their families. Free and reduced breakfasts and lunches are provided for children in schools. Our district also has a food program that sends home a bag of food for children and their families to have over the weekend. I have seen children be disappointed when inclement weather hits and they are out of school for several days.
However; nutrition in Africa is much worse. Food insecurity and malnutrition give rise to many consequences for health and development, with mothers and children most vulnerable to the devastating effects. Malnourished mothers are at a greater risk of dying in childbirth and of delivering low-birth-weight babies who fail to survive infancy. Children are vulnerable to the consequences of food insecurity and malnutrition because of their physiology and high calorie needs for growth and development. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of death of more than 2.6 million children each year, a third of under-five deaths, and a third of total child deaths worldwide.
I agree it's devastating that children anywhere have to go hungry. I am very thankful that American schools offer these programs however, they do not help the younger children in the homes or if the parents refuse to apply for the benefits. I know of children who receive the food bags on the weekends but because of the number of children who are under school age in the home they still go hungry.
ReplyDeleteI, too, see hungry kids every day, Amy. Some days I just think 'how awful that they didn't get breakfast today' or some other meal... maybe even a few in a row. And then I have to stop and think about those children you are referring to in Africa or some other underdeveloped country. I don't think any of my students are Malnourished - you mentioned that in Africa even mothers are malnourished. I can't believe that over 2.6 MILLION kids die each year there! Wow.. We are certainly a very blessed nation.
ReplyDeleteI am very bothered by how many children world wide go hungry each and every day! I was very interested in the bagged food program that you mentioned. Can you please explain how it works?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Christina
I am also interested in the bagged food program. My family lives in Kentucky and they do not have programs like this but they really need it! I would love to share the information with the schools there. I do feel sorry for the children world wide who are suffering. Everyone deserves to eat and I am glad that our country is helping those who cannot help themselves. However, I think we need to do a better job in this country. The A&E channel will run specials on families in this country (the last one I saw was about people in Pennsylvania) who live in condemned houses and go without food and clean water. True, they are not as bad as locations in Africa, but I think we need to take care of the kids in our own backyard as well. Welfare programs only work if they are monitored and actually used for the intended purposes. Many families sell their food stamps to get money to buy alcohol, cigarettes and to play Bingo!
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