An estimated 180 million
children under the age of five years in the world are about 15 cm shorter than
their peers. This phenomenon is not caused by genetics or disease, but a
condition called stunting. Stunting is caused by chronic nutritional
deficiencies during the first 1,000-day window of a child’s life.
According to
the World Health Organization, around 35% of children under five in Kenya are
stunted through malnutrition, with food insecurity widespread in many rural
parts of the country. Similarly, a food security,
vulnerability and nutrition assessment conducted by the government of Kenya in
2010 revealed that more than 25% of urban children were stunted while 13% of
urban households had unacceptably low levels of food consumption.
A new report, Food for Thought, by Save the Children
shows that malnutrition is the underlying cause of 2.3 million children’ deaths
a year and contributes to failures in cognitive and educational development for
millions more. The report notes that the poorest 40% are 2.8% more likely to
suffer long-term effects of malnutrition than the richest 10%.
When you consider that
a lack of adequate nutrition can cause a five-year-old to lose up to 15 cm
growth, it is hardly surprising that the effects of malnutrition would undermine
the immune system and cause permanent cognitive impairment, limiting an
individual’s capacities and opportunities throughout life. A report by Uwezo,
an education advocacy group, revealed that among standard 3 pupils only 28%
from the poorest households had achieved expected numeracy and literacy,
compared to 48% in the richest households among grade 3 pupils.
The report by Save the
Children identifies for the first time the impact of malnutrition on educational
outcomes. Compared to normal children,
stunted children: are 19% less likely to be able to read a simple sentence;
score 7% lower grades on math tests; are 13% less likely to be in the
appropriate grade for their age at school. The report further argues that the
effects of malnutrition on cognitive development, physical stature and ability
to do physical work can trap children in poverty and cause enduring social and
economic inequality.
The Cost of Hunger in
Uganda launched on June 18, 2013 shows that some 15% of all child mortality
cases in Uganda are attributable to malnutrition. 7% of repeated school years
in Uganda are associated stunting costing the education sector about $9.5
million. The report estimates that premature mortality associated with
malnutrition reduced Uganda’s labor force by 3.8%, costing the country $317
million. The study also found that treating diarrhea, anemia, respiratory
infections and other diseases related to malnutrition cost Uganda $254 million,
while losses in productivity reached $201 million in manual sectors like
agriculture and $116 million in non-manual activities. What is most
disconcerting, according to the report, is that malnutrition in the first 1,000
days has reduced Uganda’s national income by 5.6%
These depressing
statistics are not unique to Uganda. Given the similar prevalence patterns for
poverty, hunger, stunting and learning outcomes these statistics represent the
broad patterns, which obtain in Kenya and other African countries. Although
IMF, the World Bank and AfDB have projected rapid economic growth, malnutrition
could be the tripwire that stymies Africa’s growth momentum; stifling human
flourishing and undermining long-term equitable economic growth.
The negative effects of
malnutrition on education achievement, labor productivity, per capita income, income
inequality and life expectancy in our society will in turn generate increased
governance problems, reduced economic growth and political instability. Investing
now in robust nutrition interventions, along with policy reform to address
underlying causes of malnutrition, would enable millions of children in Kenya to
develop into healthy and productive members of society.
Malnutrition
robs future generations of their earning potential and stands in the way of Kenya’s
economic development. All stakeholders must understand the link between
nutrition and learning achievement, and ensure that nutrition is integrated as
a critical component of both early childhood education and the free primary education
program. Investments in nutrition at the
national level are limited and nutrition often falls in the cracks, between
agriculture and health, with no political or institutional constituency.
Kenya should introduce a
targeted conditional cash transfer program for poor mothers of children younger
than 7 years who comply with specific nutrition, health and education-related
conditions. These should include prenatal and postnatal visits, immunization,
health check-ups, growth monitoring and participation in health educational
programs. We must secure the future for posterity, our children.
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