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Malnutrition causes 45% of deaths in children under 5, taking 2 million lives every year and creating inequality while also threatening global health.
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The UK summit on food security and nutrition is a key opportunity to implement the "Hunger to Health" plan, focusing on child nutrition.
In recent years, the movement to combat child food poverty in the United Kingdom has gained tremendous momentum.
Grassroots efforts, coupled with support from notable celebrities like Marcus Rashford, Olivia Colman, and Kate Winslet, have ignited a nationwide passion to provide the youngest members of our society with a strong foundation.
The British public's recognition of child nutrition as a pressing concern is undeniable. Many individuals have been advocating for young people's right to proper nutrition from a young age, drawing from personal experiences of growing up without consistent access to nutritious food.
The outpour of support for this vital issue is heartening, but it has also highlighted a concerning disparity in our approach to vulnerable children worldwide.
Malnutrition is responsible for nearly 45% of child deaths under the age of five, claiming the lives of over two million children annually. It casts a shadow over lives and communities, perpetuates inequality, and threatens global health.
Historically, the UK was a leader in addressing this issue, allocating substantial funds to nutrition programs. However, in the face of domestic budget pressures, the impact of COVID-19, and global crises like the war in Ukraine, the UK has reduced its aid funding and retreated from the global stage.
Simultaneously, food scarcity is intensifying due to insecurity and climate change, posing significant challenges globally. Current projections indicate that almost 600 million people, primarily women and girls, will still grapple with hunger by the end of the decade.
Nonetheless, these challenges are not insurmountable. The UK possesses the capability to address hunger both at home and abroad, even with limited resources.
With diplomatic influence and a history of leadership in development, the UK can play a pivotal role in curbing malnutrition. "Hunger to Health," a five-year plan, offers a strategic approach to allocate aid spending effectively and save lives.
If implemented, this plan could save over 718,000 lives and deliver more than 300 million interventions to women and children at risk worldwide.
It focuses on addressing child malnutrition directly through four critical interventions: emergency therapeutic food, prenatal vitamins, breastfeeding support, and vitamin A supplementation, recognized as cost-effective and lifesaving measures.
However, "Hunger to Health" goes beyond providing food. It seeks to build sustainable and climate-resilient food systems while fostering a global movement to end global malnutrition. The UK can lead the way in addressing the broader impacts of food insecurity, strengthening health systems, reducing poverty, and promoting gender equality.
Feeding hungry children is not only popular with voters; it's also a moral imperative. As the upcoming general election approaches, British policymakers must take a bold stance on global malnutrition. Good nutrition is fundamental to development and represents one of the most cost-effective investments, with a return of over £13 for every pound spent.
Some know that they can give vulnerable children a brighter future, as they've done so before, both at home and abroad. It's time for the UK to resume leadership in nutrition intervention.
The forthcoming summit on food security and nutrition, hosted in the UK, offers a crucial opportunity to signal renewed commitment and begin implementing the "Hunger to Health" plan. Child nutrition is not an unsolvable issue; it's a challenge that the UK can and should tackle head-on.