Childhood malnutrition can cause problems at school age by preventing or limiting behavioral and cognitive development, as well as school performance; Despite multiple campaigns fighting against the problem, it still persists. In the case of the province of Loja, it is over 25%, according to a specialist.
Circumstances
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) indicates that chronic childhood malnutrition affects 20% of children under 2 years of age in Ecuador. This problem impacts the country’s productivity and has an impact throughout people’s lives.
According to pediatrician Cléver Robles, malnutrition is an evil that afflicts, mainly, citizens in vulnerable situations, because their living conditions are not very favorable for adequate nutrition.
“The rate of this problem has decreased, but in Loja it is still high: it is over 25% (before it was over 30%),” he said.
He stated that the problem cannot be eliminated if adequate conditions do not exist for families to improve their living conditions. “Remember that this serious problem transcends mere nutritional issues and is due to multiple factors such as the absence of exclusive breastfeeding, health checks, vaccination, basic services and safe water, as well as the presence of many digestive and respiratory infections. ”, he noted.
Places
Saraguro and Espíndola are cantons where a higher incidence of chronic childhood malnutrition is recorded, without ruling out Calvas, Gonzanamá, Paltas, Olmedo and Celica, where Plan Internacional gives workshops to families.
In addition, they are complemented with strategies to combat the problem, such as the implementation of family gardens, nutrition talks and delivery of kits, which allow adequate nutrition to be provided to infants. (YO)