Yes, I totally agree because adequate nutrition is the building block of a child’s development thus his health and survival in this world. Well-nourished children are better fit to participate in the community emotionally and socially. They face crises better due to proper cognitive development supplied by the nutrients that they get. They have a high maturation rate in attention, memory, and perception (Ausmed, 2016). Physically, children develop better by having strong bones and muscles resulting in a height and weight appropriate for their age. Having the right nutrition also helps establish a foundation for healthy eating habits and nutritional knowledge that they carry on in life. Sadly, malnutrition, or the lack of nutrients in the diet of a child, has been prevalent across the world. According to UNICEF (2022), 1/3 of children under 5 years old are affected by this, resulting in stunting, wasting, and being overweight. This also leads to irreversible damage to the physical and cognitive development during the first two years of a child’s life. In the long run, this leads to poor school performance, which can result in future income reduction. However, solving this is not as easy as providing food to malnourished children for it will only be a band-aid effect. This problem is intertwined with poverty, lack of access to basic health services, and even overpopulation. This should be a worldwide movement and awareness is the first step.
References:
- UNICEF. (2022). Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/nutrition#:~:text=UNICE
- Ausmed (2016). Nutrition and Health in Children and the Role of the Healthcare Worker. Retrieved from https://www.ausmed.com/cpd/articles/nutrition-for-children