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A healthy citizen is an asset to the nation. A state of well-being contributes to raise national productivity and improve many social indicators of better living. “Health is Wealth”, is the age-old saying. The goal of attaining health at its best is indeed a desirable milestone for an individual as well as the nation.
What’s the key to good health? Is not the nutritious food in the form of ‘balanced diet’ serves as fuel to the body engine to keep it going at full steam? Each food article we consume makes its impact on our body systems. Aren’t we bound to meet the demands of our body systems for sake of optimum functional efficiency and over-all well-being? The individual who enjoys a full, rich and wholesome life must have an adequate amount of wholesome food.
The concept of nutrition has changed drastically over the years. In the mid 18th century, scientists regarded that human body only consisted of wheat gluten and that there was only one kind of food found in all food articles. Since then the original concept of nutrition has transformed into many different forms based on the scientific findings. Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats were the first to be discovered within the foods. Then came a smaller classification of nutrition called Amino Acids. Scientists found that proteins consisted of some 24 different amino acids essential for human body. Vitamins as essential micro-nutrients were the next big discovery. The know-how to combat against deficiency diseases entirely altered the concept of nutrition and helped save the lives of many victims of Deficiency Disorders.
The changing ecological status of man has brought in changes in epidemiology giving rise to a host of non-communicable life style related diseases. The focus has shifted to cholesterol and fats in many parts of the world due to over-consumption of food. Men are killing themselves by eating too much. Obesity has been labeled in the developed world as a chronic disease and hyper-vitaminosis has become a common ailment. The developing world on the other hand barring a few isolated urban pockets of affluence, is by and large struggling to cope with under nutrition due to lack of essential nutrients in the diet and also because of poor amount of dietary intake.
Malnutrition has crippled the growth of many nations. The UNICEF report 2004 says that it is the contributing factor in over half of under five deaths in the developing world. The global commitment to fight against poverty, hunger, and malnutrition has amply demonstrated in the form of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in the year 2000 under the aegis of the UN General Assembly, setting the goals to be achieved by the nations of the world by 2015. They are: -
Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; Achievement of universal primary education; empowerment of women and reduction in gender inequalities; Reduction of child mortality; Improved maternal health; Improved environmental sustainability; Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases and Develop a global partnership for development.
Malnutrition often synonymous with under nutrition has serious consequences on people of all ages. But it has devastating effect on children, adolescents and women during pregnancy and lactation. In India, it is regarded as a silent emergency seriously affecting human development an economy of the country. The prevention of malnutrition in infant and children is thus crucial for improving our human resources in terms of educability, skill development and capacity building. Since malnutrition is linked to human capacities having economic costs in terms of production and productivity, the theme of the year 2005 for the Nutrition Week (Sep.01-07) ‘micro-nutrient deficiencies – a drain in the economy’ rightly emphasizes the need to create awareness about nutritional needs for economic prosperity.
India has taken up the problem of malnutrition seriously and has formulated appropriate policies and programmes to fight against the menace. Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Mid-Day Meals Programme (NMMP) and several employment schemes providing food for work are some such programmes in operation. ICDS, one of the world’s largest nutrition related development programme with it increasing coverage in terms of area and population across the length and breadth of the country is sure to make a headway in tackling the challenges of malnutrition. Our country has a network of 6.92 lakh Anganwadi Centres with 452.36 lakh beneficiaries comprising children of (0-6) years and pregnant and lactating mother. The State of Karnataka has 185 ICDS projects (rural 166, urban 12 and tribal 7) operating through a network of more than 40,000 Anganwadi Centres benefiting about 30 lakh-targeted populations.
Improved nutritional status of children in India, the home of more than 158 million, can definitely herald a new era of prosperity and well-being in the days to come.
Nutrition no longer remains confined to the domain of health sector alone. It has become the cornerstone of socio-economic development. The adoption of a multi-sectoral and integrated development strategy is the need of the hour for all round human development.
*Additional Principal Information Officer
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