Eradicating Malnutrition

ERADICATING THE SCOURGE CALLED MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition can be defined as a physical weakness caused by not eating enough food of the right kind. It can also be described as a situation involving the state at which the human body lacks the required food components known as ‘balanced diet’.

Malnutrition, which is a serious condition that occurs when a person’s diet doesn’t contain the right amount of nutrients, simply means poor nutrition, and can be referred to as ‘Under-nutrition’ when the carrier does not possess enough nutrients or ‘Over-nutrition’ when the sufferer has more nutrients than he/she requires.

Malnutrition is caused by having an inadequate diet or a problem absorbing nutrients from food. There are several reasons either of these conditions might occur to include having reduced mobility, a long-term health condition such as a chronic disease, or a low income. Malnutrition could be in form of kwashiorkor, anaemia, obesity, xerophthalmia, pellagra, among others, as the case may be.

       Other medical conditions that can lead to malnutrition include:

v A condition that results to lack of appetite such as cancer, liver disease, persistent pain or nausea.

v A mental health condition including depression, dementia, or schizophrenia, which may affect one’s ability to look after him/herself.

v A condition that disrupts one’s body ability to digest food particles or absorb nutrients such as dyspepsia or ulcerative colitis.

v A condition that makes swallowing difficult or painful such as dysphagia as well as persistent vomiting or diarrhoea and eating disorder including anorexia nervosa.

It is worth noting that, some kinds of medication can increase one’s risk of developing malnutrition. Medical experts are of the opinion that over two hundred and fifty (250) types of medicine are known to disrupt the body’s ability to absorb as well as breakdown nutrients. One may also be at risk of becoming malnourished if his/her body has an increased demand for energy – for example, if it’s trying to heal itself after undergoing a major surgery or having sustained a serious injury such as a burn, or if the body is experiencing involuntary movements like tremor.

Physical factors can also contribute to malnutrition. For instance; if one’s teeth are in a poor state, eating could be difficult or painful. One might also lose his appetite as a result of losing his sense of smell and taste. More so, one may be passing through a physical disability or other impairment that makes it difficult for him/her to cook or shop for food. Social factors that can contribute to malnutrition include: living alone and being socially isolated, having limited knowledge about nutrition or cooking, and alcohol/drug dependency.

The most common symptom of under-nutrition is unintentional weight-loss. Other signs may include: weak muscles, low mood, feeling tired all the time and an increased chances of contracting various illnesses or infections. On the other hand, the main sign of over-nutrition is being overweight or obese. However, persons living with under-nutrition can also be overweight if they feed on a diet high in energy (calories) but low in other nutrient. Signs of malnutrition in children can include failure to grow at the expected rate coupled with behavioural changes such as appearing unusually irritable, sluggish and/or anxious.

In the hospital or clinic, one can be diagnosed to be malnourished or not, by calculating his/her Body Mass Index (BMI). Someone with a BMI that falls within 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. Thus, one with BMI either less than or greater than the above stipulated range is considered malnourished.

It is worthy to note that malnutrition is a severe and deadly medical condition. Significantly, accordingly to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), statistics show that about 10.9 million children under the age of five die in developing countries like Nigeria each year; survey indicates that malnutrition and other hunger-related diseases cause sixty percent (60%) of the said deaths. In addition, the cost of under-nutrition to national economic development in any of the affected countries is estimated at 20-30 billion US-dollars per annum.

Based on what made someone to become malnourished and how severe the condition is, treatment may be carried out at home or in the hospital. Dietary changes are the main treatment for malnutrition; if one is undernourished, he might need to increase the nutritional content of his/her foods or diet, with or without taking nutritional supplements. If the person in question is unable to eat enough to meet his/her nutritional needs, he/she might need a feeding tube to provide nutrients directly into the digestive system or a drip to provide nutrients and fluids directly into the vein.

The best way to prevent malnutrition is to eat a healthy balanced diet. Indeed, a healthy balanced diet is vital for maintaining good health and fitness. To stay healthy, one needs to eat a variety of foods from the four main food groups, namely: plenty of fruit and vegetables; plenty of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods; some milk and dairy foods; and, some meat, fish, eggs, beans, among other non-dairy sources of protein.

Considering the aforementioned likely causes of malnutrition, analysts are of the view that the health anomaly could be fundamentally attributed to illiteracy, ignorance or poverty, as the case may be. This implies that the ongoing crusade regarding the eradication of all forms of malnutrition in the contemporary Nigerian society requires the holistic effort of all and sundry including the governments, health experts, civil society, the media, non-governmental bodies as well as well-meaning individuals.

The government at all levels ought to endeavour to establish primary health-care centres within the reach of the citizenry, especially the ordinary people. And, must ensure that each of the health centres enjoys the services of at least a qualified resident dietician. In the same vein, people should be conscientized to visit the health centres situated at their respective localities from time-to-time, in order to acquire the consequential or needed counselling on dietary.

Furthermore, the civil society and NGOs that are concerned with health matters are expected to intensify awareness on the possible causes of malnutrition. It is advisable for them to regularly embark on a door-to-door sensitization campaign and at all times endeavour to organize seminars cum workshops with a view to bringing the less-privileged individuals closer to health/dietary issues. This proposed measure can effectively and efficiently be actualized by involving the mass media.

It is obvious that most people, particularly those residing at the rural areas, are yet to understand the actual meaning of ‘balanced diet’ owing to lack of education. This is where the informed minds or well-meaning Nigerians are meant to come in; they should let their relatives, friends, well-wishers, neighbours, and what have you, who are less-privileged information/education wise, to acknowledge the fact that balanced diet can be obtained within their places of residence such as their home gardens.

It is no longer news that most Nigerians are preoccupied with the notion that balanced diet comprises ‘expensive’ foods that can only be acquired by high-income earners; on this note, they should be meant to comprehend that they can produce essential foods at their houses without any tangible or reasonable capital. Besides, it is estimated that 684,000 child deaths worldwide could be prevented by increasing access to vitamin A and zinc, which can be obtained from vegetables.

The schools at all levels to include primary, secondary and tertiary, on their part, ought to ensure that teachings involving dietary are taken more seriously. In this regard, the various tertiary institutions should introduce a General Studies (GS) course that would educate the undergraduates mainly on issues concerning dietary and agriculture in general. Such studies should be made to be mandatory and ubiquitous by the federal government through the legislature. The measure ought to be extended to the secondary and primary schools.

Above all, in our individual capacities, we ought to note that malnutrition can easily be prevented if we are continually mindful or conscious of whatever we eat, drink as well as our lifestyles. Most importantly, we mustn’t fail to remain close to our health counsellors or those who are more informed than us as regards dietary matters. This approach alone would go a long way to keep us healthy at all times. Think about it!

 

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
 

 

                              

2015 Int'l Literacy Day

TACKLING THE DANGERS OF ILLITERACY

      

Literacy, according to BBC English Dictionary,  is ‘the ability to read and write’. Over the years, there have been several definitions of literacy by various schools of thought. In some quarters, it is described as a fundamental right and a foundation for lifetime learning, better well-being and livelihoods. 

Surely, literacy is a driver for sustainable and inclusive development. It is a tool for personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. In the same vein, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, income and his/her relationship with the world.

Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for alleviating poverty, eradicating child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality, as well as ensuring sustainable development, peace and functional democracy. Thus, educational opportunities and other academic prowess depend solely on literacy.

Honestly, we need to be able to read and write in order to get through our basic daily tasks or activities, such as writing a shopping list, gaining admission into any school, and securing a job opportunity. No doubt, literacy opens up a window of opportunities to every one of us; and it is very essential to our individual and national developments.

Since it is only a literate community otherwise known as a dynamic community that has the ability to exchange ideas and engage in debate, it is of no need saying that literacy is the only tool that can guarantee a healthy and hearty living, and an encouraging development among mankind.

Illiteracy, however, is an obstacle to a better quality of life. As a societal cankerworm, it has yielded several uncalled and inconsequential stigmatizations among humanity, both in the past and present, thereby leading to series of unimaginable and uncontrollable violence or crises.

Undoubtedly, several people in the world have derailed in their respective pursuits owing to illiteracy. An illiterate person, whom is considered as a vulnerable being, is exposed to numerous maltreatments or abuses, including humiliation, stigmatization, molestation, intimidation, extortion, drug abuse, just to mention but a few.

Frankly, the dangers of illiteracy cannot be overemphasized; it has led to several social, economic, cultural, religious, and political mayhems at various levels of human endeavours. Unequivocally, illiteracy has subjected humanity to uncountable vices, and has remained the major cause of the increasing rate of abject poverty as well as several severe illnesses which often result to the death of the victims.

Taking cognizance of the fact that over 775 million adults in the world lack minimum education, coupled with the acknowledgement of the real dangers of illiteracy in any society, the commemoration of the International Literacy Day came into existence by the effort of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The International Literacy Day was proclaimed on November 17, 1965 by UNESCO; it was first celebrated in 1966. The aim of adopting the initiative was to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals and the international community at large; and to raise public awareness on the extraordinary value of the written words coupled with the necessity to promote a literate society.

Tuesday September 8, the world over is commemorated the 2015 International Literacy Day as stipulated by the United Nations (UN). It is a day that calls for the promotion of literacy at all levels in order to totally eradicate the lingering dangers of illiteracy across the globe.

For over sixty-six (66) years, UNESCO has worked tirelessly and relentlessly to ensure that literacy remains a priority on national and international agendas through its formal and non-formal literacy programmes worldwide. Till date, the organization is earnestly striving towards realizing the vision of a literate world for all.

Part of the Millennium Development Goals regarding Universal Education is aimed at ensuring that every human being, especially a child, has the opportunity to make a better life. Unfortunately, too many children in the world today grow up without this chance because they are denied their basic right to even attend nursery or primary school.

Lessons learnt over recent years have shown that, meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts but also for renewed political wills, and for doing things differently at all levels – locally, nationally and internationally, irrespective of the challenges that might be faced.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the annual Int’l Literacy Day today, we are expected to contribute our quota towards ensuring that everyone around us understands the essence of having a literate society which would go a long way to tackle the various dangers of illiteracy that is earnestly tarnishing our socio-economic image. The time to act is now. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

 

2015 Int'l Day of Charity

ENDING THE ONGOING UNKIND ATTITUDES OF MANKIND

        

It is widely noted that ‘God loves a cheerful giver’, which simply implies that one who gives freely and cheerfully will definitely receive his/her reward from God, in abundance.

Charity, in a concise term, is a kind or generous attitude towards other people. In the same vein, it can be defined as money, gift, or time given to poor or less-privileged people. Some typical examples of charity include:

v Raising funds for the benefit of a certain person or cause.

v Contributing manual labour to help build a house for a low-income family.

v Setting aside half of your coffee money per month and granting that money to an organization that helps the needy.

v Donating food, clothes, and other basic requirements to the motherless-babies homes, from time to time.

v Asking friends and family to donate money to a specific charity organization rather than getting you gifts for birthdays and other anniversaries.

No doubt, charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people. Thus, it is the duty of everyone to live toward its uplift since it helps to foster a society filled with peace and harmony. And, it is worth noting that no meaningful development can take place in a society that lacks peace.

Saturday September 5, the world over commemorated the 2015 International Day of Charity. In recognition of charity’s key role in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering, in 2012, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated September 5 of every year as the International Day of Charity.

The date was chosen in respect to the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa whose life and good works for some of the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden while on earth inspired several people across the world. In other words, the adoption of the day for the commemoration of the International Day of Charity was in honour of the Late Mother Teresa, because the deceased Amazon dedicated her life to the poor and other disadvantaged people around the globe.

The idea of the International Day of Charity was proposed by Hungary with the aim of creating a universal platform to raise awareness on the importance of benevolent giving. Upon the initiative of Hungary, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus to designate 5^th of September - the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.

The resolution was co-sponsored by the forty-four (44) Member states representing all the five regions of the United Nations. The cross-regional support of the initiative reflects the universal recognition of charity and the apparent relevance of selfless giving or services in today’s world.

In his introductory speech, the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN – Mr. Csaba Korosi, highlighted that charity as a way of thinking, provides real social bonding and contributes immensely to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. According to him, ‘Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care delivery, education, housing, and child protection. It assists the advancement of culture, science, sports, and natural heritage. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and the underprivileged, as well as spreads the message of humanity in conflict situations.’

The first commemoration of the Day was held in the year 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A; the event featured various panel discussions on the role of charity in poverty alleviation and in promoting access to clean water and sanitation in general, with distinguished guest speakers from the philanthropic community including the United Nations Foundation.  

Therefore, the International Day of Charity is a day to remember those who are less advantaged, and to take appropriate actions to help them. The UN set aside September 5 of every year as that day, so that, we all would act collectively in order to alleviate the suffering and pains of the less-privileged around us.

However, bear in mind that many people are doing charitable work every day, either individually or collectively. Needless to state unequivocally that, everyday is a golden opportunity to assist those in need; devoting our time coupled with money, would help to end these lingering unkind attitudes found among mankind.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the third commemoration of the annual International Day of Charity as well as the anniversary of Late Mother Teresa, I candidly urge every individual and organization worldwide to use this opportunity to promote their own projects and encourage charitable activities in their respective communities or societies. Obviously, this is the only way we can boast of a meaningful development in our various societies. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056