Speaking on the occasion, Sudhir Bhandari, Principal, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, said, “India initially faced physical challenges during Covid-19. However, over time, we realised how nutrition affected the lives of many. Around 9.3 million children would be affected by 2022 out of which 20-25 per cent might suffer due to stunted growth.
“In countries with the 1st and 2nd waves of Covid-19, obesity and non-communicable diseases have been associated with the more severe outcome of the virus. Covid-19 has had a severe effect on maternal and young children’s nutritional status. We must strengthen the food security and functioning of the food supply chain to the population.”
‘Children experiencing under-nutrition are more likely to suffer from pandemic complications as it may cause more sickness and mortality due to Covid-19 and other infectious and inflammatory diseases, including pneumonia.’
Bhandari added that last year, almost 58 million children between the age group of 6 months and 23 months did not develop the right eating habits.
D.K. Mangal, advisor, SD Gupta School of Public Health at IIHMR University, said, “India bears a disproportionate burden of malnutrition. Response to the pandemic has disrupted routine nutrition programmes such as the ICDS and the Mid-Day Meal programme. This has adversely affected the nutrition status of millions of children and women.”
The webinar was organised by the NGO Saksham Sanchar.
Source: IANS
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