I agree with the quote that good nutrition is the foundation of a child’s survival, health, and development. As the child’s body structures are continually growing and developing, good nutrition is needed by the body. Essential nutrients and minerals are needed in order to cater the needs. Good nutrition serves as a building block for the child’s immune system to fight off infectious diseases. It also ensures that the child has proper activity levels and cognitive functioning. Childhood is also the phase in life wherein the child learns and establishes eating habits, proper nutrition, and diet, that they will use throughout their life. Therefore, good nutrition truly is the foundation of their survival, health, and development.
According to UNICEF (n.d.), in the Philippines, 95 children die everyday due to malnutrition. In 1,000 Filipino children, 27 do not make it after their fifth birthday. ⅓ are stunted, and stunting that occurs after 2 years of age may become permanent, irreversible, and fatal. There are a lot of factors, especially in the country, that contribute to the lack of good nutrition in children. This often includes low immunization rate, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, and infections. These factors added with the lack of good nutrition in children can become fatal if not resolved.
As a student nurse and a future nurse, it is one of our responsibilities that our patients, especially children, meet their nutritional needs. Providing nutrition screening and conducting patient education on meeting nutritional needs are some of the thingsthat we can do for our patients. Different nutritional programs and services may also be conducted to provide for children in places where there is a lack of access to health care and resources.
References:
Texas A&M International University. (2019). The nurse’s role in preventing malnutrition. https://online.tamiu.edu/articles/rnbsn/nurses-role-preventing-malnutrition.aspx
UNICEF. (n.d.). Child survival.https://www.unicef.org/philippines/child-survival#:~:text=Every%20day%2C%2095%20children%20in,permanent%2C%20irreversible%20and%20even%20fatal.
Xu, X., Parker, D., Ferguson, C. & Hickman, L. (2017). Where is the nurse in nutritional care?. Contemporary Nurse, 53:3, 267-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2017.1370782.