Healthy
children are the bedrock of a healthy society. Good nutrition is the core
pillar for healthy and productive communities and nations. The benefits of good
nutrition are carried across generations, binding and supporting various facets
of nation’s development. Hence it is in a nation’s best interest to safeguard its
children’s health. As per
UNICEF, around 3 million children die due to undernutrition every year. Asia
alone is believed to be home to approximately 70% of the world's malnourished
children, while India has the highest percentage of undernourished children in
the world. Ironically when the economic development of India is growing at
nearly 10% annually, the rate of undernourished children remain very high. As
per the third National Family Health Survey (NFHS) India, 48%
of children under the age of five are stunted due to chronic undernutrition. Undernutrition,
often referred to as “hidden hunger”, is a form of malnutrition. It has long
been a sore point for India, adversely impacting the overall social and
economic development.
Without
aggressive efforts, the undernutrition issue in India is escalating with
devastating consequences on children’s development-physical growth retardation,
increased susceptibility to diseases, hampered cognitive development.
Undernutrition
issues among the age of under-five children is an important concern for the
health authorities in India. It is acknowledged widely that infections are as
much a cause of malnutrition as they are a consequence. Malnourished children
have increased risk of mortality from infectious diseases. Investing in
elevating maternal and child nutritional status is a long-term investment that
will benefit the present generation and their children as well.
The
nutrition of mothers and children is closely linked. When malnutrition starts at
conception, most of the damage is already done as the child enters the second
year of life. The first 1000 days of a child’s life is a critical window and represents
the most vulnerable period to the impact of poor nutrition. Deficits during
this period can have irreversible consequences for the child. Other than adversely
impacting the cognitive ability, a child’s nutritional status also influences the
immune responses in varied and complex ways. A common thread links nutrition,
immunity and infections. Nutritional deficiencies are known to affect various
components of the immune system putting a child at a greater risk of developing
a disease. The severity of malnutrition and the age of onset of nutritional
deprivation often decide the extent of immunological impairment. A stunted,
undernourished child is at a greater risk of various diseases. Infection and
malnutrition overlap and interact; infact they form a vicious cycle. Undernutrition
weakens the immune system, putting children at higher risk of more severe,
frequent and prolonged bouts of illness. Looking at this from other end of the
spectrum, undernutrition appears to be a consequence of repeated infections,
which can further worsen the child’s nutritional status. Thus recurrent
infections contribute to pathogenesis of malnutrition. This interaction between
under nutrition and infection creates a potentially lethal cycle of worsening
illness and deteriorating nutritional status. Critical nutrition interventions have
the potential to break this cycle and are important for accelerating progress. Scrimshaw
et al (1968) first described this
vicious cycle of infection and under nutrition. His research stated that
infections predispose to malnutrition, through reduced intake and absorption
and diversion of nutrients away from growth, while malnutrition reduces immune
function and increases the risk and/or severity of infections.
Immunization
and improved nutrition are among the key factors in a multi-sectoral package of
interventions for reducing childhood mortality and feature prominently in the
Gates Grand Challenges in Global Health. Vaccination programs also stand to
hugely benefit the malnourished population as well. Vaccination programs are
particularly valuable health resource for settings that are in high-disease
environment. Reforming children’s health status translates into higher worker
productivity promoting economic success and poverty reduction for a nation. Improving
nutritional status will further add to the overall success of the multi
sectoral interventions that include immunization and vaccination programs
undertaken by the government.
It
is reassuring that the enormity of the adverse impacts of poor nutrition on a
child’s growth and development are being recognized and acted upon
aggressively. Entities such as Hilleman Laboratories understand and recognize
the interplaying role of nutrition and immunity in improving child health and
development and its impact on the economic sustainability of our nation and are
looking ahead and promoting actions for transforming lives.
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