Children have made many sacrifices because of the country’s COVID-19 response, including social isolation, lack of education opportunities and reduced access to nutrition programmes.
Poor sanitation has a well documented effect on child health.
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There is no clear delineation of roles and responsibilities relating to the integration of clean water, sanitation, safe hygiene and nutritional status.
A woman uses her feet to pull herself along in a wheelchair among cherry blossoms at a homeless camp at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver in April 2020 that was recently evaculated due to COVID-19. The coronavirus has exposed and fed upon other societal issues in true ‘syndemic’ fashion.
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When two or more epidemics co-exist and compound one another to worsen health, they are said to be syndemic. COVID-19 is feeding on other crises and diseases.
Social distancing is impossible in much of Africa, and its economic consequences may lead to a famine that is worse than the pandemic. Prevention measures must consider the African context.
Golden Rice – a controversial genetically modified product designed to combat malnutrition – has been approved as safe in the Philippines. But key questions remain unanswered.
Spotting the signs isn’t always easy.
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Chronic illness, difficulty eating on their own, and even loneliness are just some of the reasons why people over-65 are more likely to be malnourished.
Children who experience multiple forms of malnutrition are at the greatest risk of early death.
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Students suffer the double burden of malnutrition - hunger and obesity. This results in stress, ill health, poor academic results and increased drop-out rates.
It’s not that people in poorer countries want to eat unhealthily - but cost is a huge factor.
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