Forty-five percent of all deaths of children under five are attributable to malnutrition in its various forms. Stunting—a consequence of chronic malnutrition that leads to lifelong health issues—affects one in four children under five globally. At the other end of the spectrum, an estimated 70 million infants and children will be affected by overweight and obesity in the next ten years. These are just a few of the shocking numbers behind the second Nutrition for Growth Summit, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil today, August 4th.
A partnership between the UK, Brazilian and Japanese governments, the Nutrition for Growth Summit presents an opportunity to set measurable objectives aimed at achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end malnutrition by the year 2030. HVO is helping to address the global burden of malnutrition through multiple projects in a variety of program areas. A focus on growth monitoring has helped providers at our pediatrics project in Indonesia recognize patients who are at risk for both stunting and overweight and obesity. Often mistakenly thought of as a health concern that primarily impacts high-income countries, a majority of the estimated 70 million children who will be affected by overweight and obesity in the coming years live in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In 2012, more than 80 percent of deaths directly attributable to diabetes occurred in LMICs, according to the World Health Organization.
Tooth decay and other oral health conditions often contribute to malnutrition in LMICs by making eating painful and difficult for children who are already at risk. One of the objectives of HVO’s newest oral health project in Haiti is to support the nation’s only dental school in operating its Saturday clinic, where Port-au-Prince children can receive treatment without missing school to visit the dentist.
A crucial step towards ending malnutrition is ensuring that children (and mothers) receive adequate nutrition during the 1,000 day time span between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday. In May 2016, HVO welcomed the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to our family of sponsors. At the same time, HVO announced the launch of our new obstetrics and gynecology program. HVO’s OBGYN division is dedicated to improving the lives of mothers and their children. Better access to quality health care during this critical time will help reduce the number of maternal and infant deaths due to preventable causes such as malnutrition.
By providing education, training and professional development opportunities to the existing health workforce in resource-scarce countries, HVO empowers providers in those countries to take the lead in combating conditions such as malnutrition. Our sponsors, donors and volunteers all help to support them in that fight. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at HVO’s numerous overseas programs, and view our 2015 Annual Report to gain a greater sense of our impact.