India, fight against malnutrition, aid workers take sides against the ‘supplements’ distributed by UNICEF

MUMBAI (AsiaNews) – L’Unicef wants to push the widespread diffusion of lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) to fight malnutrition in children. But this is not the right way to really address the problem. This is what is claimed in India by numerous entities involved in this emergency, which in the country still sees at least 920,000 children suffering from forms of severe malnutrition.

“A shortcut to the problem of poverty”. The answer theUnicef encourages countries to purchase SQ-LNS, food supplements made with legume paste, dried fruit, powdered milk with the addition of mineral salts and micro-nutrients to be distributed to children aged 6-24 months. A system that those who oppose it define a “shortcut to the problem of poverty, moreover exposed to serious conflicts of interest with the manufacturing companies”. In recent days theInternational Baby Food Action Network (Ibfan) expressly denounced the direct involvement of a manufacturing company – the French one Nutriset – in tests conducted by the UN agency on the nutritional efficacy of these supplements.

UNICEF’s response and our addition. We add to the article by Nirmala Carvalho that, on this matter, the office UNICEF of India, issued the following statement: “UNICEF India has not promoted or supported the use of SQ-LNS in national nutrition programs in that country. UNICEF India works closely with national and state governments, partners and communities to improve infant nutrition and promote best practices in infant and young child feeding, to create solutions to malnutrition that are sustainable, evidence-based and culture-sensitive.” It is also worth adding, from our side, that in India – data FAO – about 46% of children under the age of three are underweight and many of them suffer from acute malnutrition. About 30% are underweight at birth.

The cultural aspects. But, beyond the economic aspect, there is precisely the theme of the way in which this type of intervention affects cultural factors such as eating habits and acceptance of food. Joseph, the religious who in the Indian state of Maharashtra is also convinced of this Welfare Society for Destitute Children one of the works founded now sixty years ago by Anthony Elenjimittam, with the St Catherine of Siena Orphanage. “We are engaged in the fight against malnutrition in Murbad, a subdivision of the Thane district which has over 90 villages – he says -. We work precisely on eating habits, promoting healthy behaviors. In these remote rural areas, our social workers currently promote activities with 150 families participating in our programs. We encourage women and children to have regular medical examinations. When the food they consume is not nutritious, they insist on the importance of giving them nutritious foods that are high in protein, iron and minerals, but in line with their traditional dietary habits.”

In a nutshell. Food supplements can be important, but where they are really needed. And without forgetting that malnutrition is a consequence of poverty, which is the area in which action must be taken as a priority. Finally, Br. Joseph recalls how these interventions are offered to everyone free of charge, without discrimination of caste or faith.

* Nirmala Carvalho – Asianews