Authors
S Vasudevan, Editor, Kerala Medical Journal, Trivandrum; Additional Professor, Department of Urology, Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Abstract
Background: The nutrition and health of school-age children have returned to the global agenda, spurring initiatives like FRESH (Focus Resources on Effective School Health, Nutrition and Hygiene) by UN agencies and the World Bank, and WFP’s Food for Education Programme. These efforts aim to address hunger, malnutrition, and ill health as barriers to universal primary education and gender equality.
Key Issues: This editorial highlights prevalent health and nutritional challenges affecting school-age children. Malnutrition, encompassing stunting, underweight, and wasting, significantly impairs mental development and educational achievement. The rise of overweight and obesity in low-income countries due to nutrition transition is also noted. Furthermore, children in these regions bear a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality from micronutrient deficiencies (iron, iodine, Vitamin A), diarrhoeal diseases, helminthic infections (roundworm, whipworm, hookworm), and malaria, which severely compromise their health and learning abilities. While HIV prevalence is lower in this age group, psychological and emotional distress are also concerns.
Examples and Interventions: The article references local studies, including anemia screening in school children in Kollam district, Kerala, and a study on under-nutrition and anemia among under-five rural children in South Karnataka, which revealed high prevalence rates of stunting, wasting, underweight, and various deficiencies. It advocates for skills-based health education and simple interventions to combat malnutrition and ill health.
Conclusion: Achieving a child’s full potential is inextricably linked to the synergistic effects of good health, nutrition, and education. Simple, effective interventions can significantly improve health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for school-age children.