“Good Nutrition is a foundation of a child’s survival, health, and development”.
What are you insights on this quote?
In construction of buildings and infrastructures, a properly built foundation is essential in maintaining the integrity of the building throughout the years. Just like this example, it is important for the child to have good nutrition as this is the base in which they build upon their health, development, and survival.
This first 1,000 days span three stages: pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood (up to 2 years of age). The right diet and nutrition is important within this time frame since a baby’s brain develops more quickly during the first 1,000 days than any other time of life. This helps the child’s learning, physical skills, and emotions to develop properly.
Aside from good nutrition, it is also important to provide safety and security, and minimize exposure to stress and trauma, both for the mother in the pregnancy stage, and the child after they are born.
Poverty during infancy is also linked to adverse health and wellbeing outcomes later in life. This is especially apparent in our country where UNICEF (n.d.) reports that 95 children die from malnutrition, 1/3 of Filipino children are stunted, and 27 out of 1,000 children do not get past their fifth birthday. I do believe we can link their continuous lack of good nutrition within and beyond that crucial 1,000 day period to their shortened survival and stunted health and development.
With this, it truly is important to put emphasis on this first 1,000 days for both mother and child, especially those who are marginalized, and are unable to access the care and resources they need to ensure that the child has the proper foundation to build upon their life.
REFERENCES
HealthDirect. (2019). The first 1,000 days. Pregnancy Birth&Baby. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/the-first-1000-days
UNICEF. (n.d.). Child survival. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/child-survival