THIS YEAR'S GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUE OF FOCUS
Malnutrition in a Global Context
With the COVID-19 pandemic triggering empty shelves in grocery stores and interruptions to our food supply chains, issues of food insecurity have become increasingly relevant in our society. However, why do food scarcity and malnutrition affect some populations around the world more than others? What factors contribute to the growing burden of malnutrition globally? And what role do we as individuals have in mitigating its consequences?
How can we approach this issue and contribute to raising awareness in a post-pandemic world?
The World Health Organisation has defined malnutrition as excesses, deficits or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients. There are three different forms of malnutrition that can co-exist in the same individual, family, or community:
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Undernutrition, which causes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age)
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Micronutrient-related malnutrition, which involves either a deficiency or excess of important vitamins and minerals
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Obesity and other noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes
“The double burden of malnutrition”: It is estimated that around 45% of deaths in children aged 5 or under are linked to undernutrition in low and middle-income countries. Unfortunately, these same countries are also experiencing rising rates of childhood obesity.
Through a series of events throughout the year, we are hoping to provide students with opportunities to learn, critically analyse and navigate issues to do with malnutrition globally.
Through our 4 Step Action Plan, we aim to provide students with educational and volunteering opportunities aimed to advocate for and tackle the issue of malnutrition.
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Come check out
Step 1: Malnutirion in a Global Context (5pm, 4th May 2022).
Step 2: Food for Thought: Malnutirion in a Global Context Panel Event (6pm, 9th May 2022).