08-January-2025-Special-Article

TACKLING MATERNAL AND CHILD MALNUTRITION: GLOBAL NUTRITION TARGETS (GNTS)

Malnutrition, including undernutrition and overnutrition, remains a critical global health challenge. A recent study published in The Lancet highlights the slow progress made between 2012 and 2021 towards achieving the Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs) aimed at reducing malnutrition.

This situation calls for innovative strategies and stronger policies to address issues such as stunting, anaemia, and childhood overweight.

What Are the Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs)?

• Introduced in 2012 through the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution.
• Part of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.
• Set six major global targets for 2025.

Key Targets

1. Reduction in Stunting: Lower the prevalence of stunting among children under five by 40%.
2. Decrease Anaemia in Women: Halve the rate of anaemia among women of reproductive age.
3. Reduce Low Birth Weight: Achieve a 30% reduction in babies born with low birth weight.
4. Prevent Childhood Overweight: Ensure no increase in overweight rates among children.
5. Boost Exclusive Breastfeeding: Raise the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to at least 50%.
6. Limit Childhood Wasting: Maintain childhood wasting below 5%.

Malnutrition:

• An imbalance between the nutrients the body needs and receives.
• Includes undernutrition (e.g., stunting, wasting) and overnutrition (e.g., overweight, obesity).

Anaemia:

• A condition where the body has insufficient red blood cells or haemoglobin.
• Reduces oxygen delivery to tissues, significantly affecting women and children.

Findings of the Lancet Study

Overall Progress

• Progress towards GNTs has been slow and insufficient globally.
• Projections for 2050 show limited success, with many targets unlikely to be met.

Specific Observations

Stunting: Few countries are on track to meet the target for reducing stunting.

Anaemia:

• Anaemia prevalence in India has stagnated over two decades.
• Iron deficiency accounts for only one-third of anaemia cases.
• Other causes and measurement discrepancies need attention.

Childhood Overweight: Increasing rates globally, including in India, are leading to metabolic health challenges.

Nutrition Disparities: Poor dietary diversity and low fat intake in children under three exacerbate malnutrition issues.

Challenges in Achieving GNTs

Global Challenges

Anaemia

• Persistent prevalence, especially in low-income, rural, and uneducated populations.
• Lack of targeted interventions and awareness.

Stunting

• Projected to affect 127 million children by 2025, falling short of the 100 million target.

Rising Obesity

• Over 37 million children under five and 390 million aged 5–19 are overweight.
• Urbanization, poor dietary patterns, and sedentary lifestyles contribute to this rise.

Childhood Wasting

• Affects 45 million children under five globally.
• Challenges include food insecurity, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access.

India-Specific Challenges

• Dietary Limitations: Diets are dominated by cereals, with inadequate fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Only 11.3% of children aged 6 months to 2 years receive a “minimum acceptable diet.”
• Economic Barriers: High food costs and low incomes prevent many families from affording nutritious meals.
• Data Gaps: Limited national surveys on dietary diversity hinder effective interventions.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension linked to poor diets.
• Food Security: Climate change impacts agricultural yields, threatening food availability.

Government Initiatives in India

• Mission Poshan 2.0: Focuses on strengthening nutrition delivery systems.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Provides food, healthcare, and education.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Offers financial incentives to pregnant women.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Ensures nutritious meals for schoolchildren.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG): Addresses malnutrition among adolescent girls.
• Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA): Promotes breastfeeding awareness.
• Poshan Vatikas: Encourages community-based kitchen gardens.

Way Forward

• Policy Realignment: Promote flexible, region-specific dietary plans. Include nutrient-dense foods in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Set National Targets: Establish baselines and annual reduction goals for nutrition indicators.
• Resource Mobilization: Allocate more financial and human resources to nutrition programs.
• Intersectoral Coordination: Integrate nutrition into policies related to health, agriculture, and sanitation.
• Strengthen Primary Healthcare: Improve maternal and child nutrition services through local health systems.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop better surveillance systems to track progress on GNTs.

Conclusion
Achieving the Global Nutrition Targets requires collaborative global and national efforts. Policymakers must address the root causes of malnutrition by focusing on dietary diversity, improving early-life nutrition, and tackling both undernutrition and overnutrition. With integrated strategies and sustained action, we can make meaningful progress towards eradicating malnutrition.

Mains Question:

1. “Critically analyze the progress made towards achieving the Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs) and discuss the challenges India faces in addressing malnutrition and dietary diversity.” (150 WORDS)