WHO releases Global Nutrition Report, 2020
On May 13, 2020, the World Health Organization released Global Nutrition Report, 2020.
Highlights
According to the report, India is one among the 88 countries that are to miss global nutrition targets set for the year 2025. India also has highest rates of domestic inequalities, especially in malnutrition. Along with Nigeria and Indonesia, India was declared the least performing in case of disparities in stunting.
The Four Nutritional Indicators
The major 4 nutritional indicators are anemia among women in reproductive age, stunting among children under-5, exclusive breast feeding and childhood overweight. The report says that India is to miss the target on all four nutritional indicators.
Key Findings
According to the report, between 2000 and 2016, underweight has decreased to 58.1% from 66% for boys. And for girls, it has decreased from 54.2% to 50.1%. Though the decrease is evident, it is still higher than that of Asian average which is 35.6% for boys and 31.8% for girls.
Around 9% of under-5 children in India are stunted and 20.8% are wasted. At least 21.6% of Indian women and 17.8% of Indian men were anaemic.
Background
The Global Nutrition Report was conceived during the first Nutrition for Growth Initiative Summit that was held in 2013.
What are the Global Nutrition Targets?
The World Health Assembly in 2012 fixed nutrition targets. They are as follows
- To reduce anaemic conditions among women by 50%
- To reduce stunting in under-5 children by 40%
- To reduce underweight births by 30%
- To reduce childhood wasting to less than 5%.
About the report
The report asks governments to focus on malnutrition as COVID-19 is threatening food systems and health. On in nine people in the world are hungry and undernourished.
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Month: Current Affairs - May, 2020