According to a FAO report of last year, there is a big problem of chronic malnutrition in the Andes, mainly aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affects, by a big margin, to the children of poor families. The estimated quantity in Ecuador is about of 406.0000 children, Colombia has 518.000 cases and Peru, 439.000. In fact, by percentage, Ecuador is the second country of Latin America with more child malnutrition, only surpassed by Guatemala.
The authorities look forward to improve this situation, but given the level of unemployment and the precariousness of the jobs that still survive, a lot of families have been forced to not feed their children in the best way possible. Even when the government implements some measures that can help, such as giving out tickets for food in market chains, the measures are not sufficient as this issue afflicts more than ever.
The impact on childhood is of big repercussion, especially because it interferes with proper growth, as evidence a smaller size and muscle mass is reached in children with malnutrition. It affects their academic and intellectual performance, also online classes and the schools still being closed are an additional impediment for 4.5 million kids and adolescents in Ecuador, as virtual education is not ideal for their age.
The executive director of UNICEF states: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic the persistent myth that children are barely affected by the disease, has emerged. There is nothing further from reality”. Indeed, the economic burden for ecuadorian families in extreme poverty makes it only possible for them to afford 29% of the basic basket and 2.3 million people could face food insecurity.
The relationship between education and food is profound. First of all, many children receive breakfast and snacks in public schools, which makes up for the possible deficiencies of a diet poor in vitamins or unbalanced. However, since this is not possible in the midst of a pandemic, problems persist.
On the other hand, the long-term effects of lack of food in childhood are very well documented. Studies show that iron deficiency, which causes anemia, prevents proper learning and reduces the ability to do physical effort. Iodine deficiency in childhood and in pregnancy restricts growth and intellectual performance.
The most serious syndrome in this context is called chronic malnutrition, also named as stunting. A child with stunting has up to 40% less brain volume. These children will not meet normal standards in their development. They will be more likely to have diseases such as: infections, pneumonia, diabetes and hypertension. When stunting is diagnosed, there is no going back. That is why it is important to take measures in the first 1,000 days, to prevent it.
At Yanapana, we seek to take action at the call of the authorities and international organizations to fight as a society against stunting, helping one family at a time. Children affected by chronic malnutrition, have consequences across their life, finding it difficult to insert themselves in their communities and looking for employment, all of it because they were victims of difficult times when they should have been taken cared for by all of us.
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