World levels of people who are classified as undernourished have spiked. One in eight people in the world don’t get enough food to eat to be healthy and lead an active life according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
Many health issues and malnutrition are linked. Sometimes disease occurs because of malnutrition. Malnutrition is the largest single contributor to disease worldwide according to the United Nation’s standing committee on Nutrition (SCN). Existing diseases are aggravated as a result of the sick person not getting enough food to sustain them for healthy living and growth.
Hunger is the greatest risk to health worldwide – greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
According to the World Food Programme however, hunger is entirely solvable. WFP says there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone without any special scientific breakthroughs being required. However, it does admit that in order for this to happen “Today’s knowledge, tools and policies, combined with political will, can solve the problem.”
In a report released by the WFP recently solving hunger was cited as the “best buy” in today’s tough economy.
“When nations work together to solve hunger and invest in good nutrition, they increase productivity and create economic opportunities, while conversely, studies have shown that countries lose millions of dollars in economic output as a result of child under nutrition.”
“Solving hunger is also a contribution to peace and stability” they go on to say. Economic instability and revolutionary potential is directly related to relative deprivation according to various sociological theories. If you are going hungry and live on the street and see other people who are eating lavish meals, tensions can rise to boiling point. Also desperation rears it’s head when a parent cannot feed their child, often leading to theft and crime.
“When governments can no longer guarantee adequate food supplies, states are prone to fall. Volatility on food markets can quickly translate into volatility on the streets.”
WFP also has stated that solving the problem of hunger will lay a foundation for progress in many other areas of development including health and education. If women are well nourished, their children are born healthier and she is able to breastfeed more successfully leading to heavier babies with a better immune system which in turn leads to general health improvement.
Also a healthy, well fed child is more likely to attend and succeed in school.
Community organisations that take on tasks to ensure people are fed go a long way towards helping to deal with hunger and malnutrition on a local level.
Are you involved in any hunger alleviation schemes? Please contact us and let us know how we can help you spread the word or look for volunteers.
Alleviating the suffering of others is an effective way of fighting back against deprivation in our communities and in doing so preventing crimes of desperation.
