A little girl I had in my Head Start class the first year I taught struggled with hunger issues. I first noticed it when she started coming to school and immediately asking for food. I would walk her through the daily routine and let her know how long until we would have snack. When it came to snack time she would stuff her mouth full of food and acted like she could not get enough. This eventually turned into hording issues where she would worry about not having enough food during snack and lunch. To set her mind at ease we always made sure to have enough food on the table. She was underweight and had health issues. I ended up talking to Mom about it and she admitted they were having problems getting food. We helped her get the information for her to get her family on food stamps and helped her get food baskets for immediate need. Even after I felt like this little girl was getting the nutrition she so desperately needed we still had a lot of work to do. It was ingrained in her mind to worry about food. She was behind academically and socially withdrawn. I believe all this had to do with the fact she was so focused on getting her basic survival needs met.
United States
Did you know? In 2008, nearly 9 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. One third of these deaths are due directly or indirectly to hunger and malnutrition
Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. That's one child every five seconds.
4.0 percent of U.S. households experience hunger. Some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. 11.1 million People, including 430 thousand children, live in these homes.
India
Child malnutrition rates are worse here than in many sub-Saharan African countries. The India State Hunger Index analyzes hunger levels in 17 major states across India. State hunger index scores range from “serious” to “extremely alarming.”
The India State Hunger Index also found that poorer Indian states have substantially higher levels of hunger than the more prosperous ones. Even states with high rates of economic growth in recent years, such as Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, have high levels of hunger, while states with relatively slower economic growth, such as Punjab, achieved a lower hunger level.
The national nutrition policy is focusing on the right age group pregnant, lactating mothers and children under the age of two. This age group is critical to address nutrition. And they did so a long time back, even compared to where India is today. It is encouraging that several states are moving towards crafting nutrition strategies and missions. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and even Bihar are states that are showing sincere interest.
References
Dassani, V. (2008, October 18). India faces urgent hunger situation. Retrieved from http://www.ifpri.org/pressrelease/india-faces-urgent-hunger-situation
Menon, P. (2010, October 16). Reduce malnourishment to improve India’s hunger index scores. Retrieved from http://southasia.oneworld.net/weekend/reduce-malnourishment-to-improve-indias-hunger-index-scores-purnima-menon
Weinreb, L. (2002). Hunger: its impact on children’s health and mental health. Official Journal Academy of Pediatrics, 110(4), Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/110/4/e41.full doi: doi: 10.1542/peds.110.4.e41
Alyssa: That is so sad that the children are so hungry and trying to get as much food as possible. You see people in buffet lines or fast food places odering so much food and throwing so much food away. I am surprised at how high the rate is. They are consuming and ordering much more than they actually need. Your post was really great and very informative.
ReplyDeleteAlissa -
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine experiencing the kind of hunger that this little girl did. It makes sense that her social and cognitive skills were lacking. Because of her extreme hunger, her brain and body couldn't focus on their work. All of her body's energy was focused on being hungry. How empowering to know that you had a hand in helping a familiy with such a basic and essential need.
The statistics you cited are pretty astounding. Afterall, this is the 21st century, we shouldn't have hungry children and families!
Teri
Alissa -
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that any child from any country has to experience hunger. I find it mading, that we still have children and families going hungry in the all the technology and resources available in the 21st century. The statistics that your provided it very compelling.
Great Post,
Schlee :)