December 31, 2020
1 min read

Acute malnutrition in children at record-high

More than 10 million children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), northeast Nigeria, the Central Sahel, South Sudan and Yemen will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) said.

All of these countries and regions are experiencing “dire humanitarian crises”, while also grappling with intensifying food insecurity, the coronavirus pandemic and, with the exception of the Central Sahel, “a looming famine”, the Unicef said in a statement on Wednesday.

“For countries reeling from the consequences of conflicts, disasters and climate change, Covid-19 has turned a nutrition crisis into an imminent catastrophe,” Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gLnhZUDy-0

“Families already struggling to feed their children and themselves are now on the brink of famine. We can’t let them be the forgotten victims of 2020,” she added.

Severe acute malnutrition is the most extreme and visible form of under nutrition.

Children with severe acute malnutrition have very low weight for their height and severe muscle wasting.

It is a major cause of death in children under five, and its prevention and treatment are critical to child survival and development.

Through 2020, in spite of Covid-19 challenges, Unicef and its partners continued to deliver lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable children and their families in the hardest to reach areas through adjustments on the existing programs to maintain and increase access.

With the situation feared to worsen in 2021, Unicef called on humanitarian actors on the ground in these countries as well as the international community to urgently expand access to and support for nutrition, health and water and sanitation services for children and families.

Unicef has appealed for more than $1 billion to support its lifesaving nutrition programs for children in countries affected by humanitarian crises over 2021.

Also Read-EU officials ink post-Brexit trade deal with UK

Previous Story

China, EU Strike Trade And Investment Deal

Next Story

Portugal set to take over EU Presidency

Latest from Health

Generic Drugs Boost Hypertension Control

By setting price ceilings on essential medicines based on average market prices, India successfully kept out-of-pocket costs low while still ensuring manufacturers made sustainable profits India’s focused public health strategies—centered on generic

Millions of vaccines to be made in Oxfordshire

State-of-the-art research centre promises millions of seasonal vaccines, pandemic preparedness, and a boost to Britain’s £100bn life sciences sector…reports Asian Lite News A new era of vaccine innovation has begun in Oxfordshire

Physiotherapy in Healthy Ageing

This year’s theme, “Healthy Ageing – Role of Physiotherapy in Falls and Frailty”, draws attention to the significance of physiotherapy in preventing falls, managing frailty, and supporting dignified ageing among the elderly

Lower BP Target Could Benefit Indians

Beyond salt reduction, experts stressed that controlling hypertension requires a comprehensive approach. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing alcohol intake, quitting tobacco, and consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits

Silent Diabetes Crisis Unfolds

The report further highlights that even for those who do receive a diagnosis, the challenges of care and management remain significant A startling number of young adults across the globe are living
Go toTop