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Future impact of present malnutrition

03 Jun 2022

Sri Lanka, once called “The Great Barn of the East”, is now a land where some are left wondering how to find their next meal, let alone three meals a day or a nutritious diet, while the Government is warning of a possible famine in the next few months and is asking people to grow as many food crops as possible to avoid the impacts of a famine.  Hunger is the most pressing immediate challenge associated with a food shortage. However, malnutrition is a much bigger challenge that can have far-reaching adverse impacts on the people, and it is high time that the Government and relevant authorities start paying attention to it, because the country is projected to face a worse food shortage, or a famine, soon. During the past few weeks, experts from several fields warned of the possibility of increased malnutrition in the country, as most nutritious foods are becoming either scarce in supply, or unaffordable due to the prevailing economic crisis. While agricultural experts from leading universities raised concerns about malnutrition in general, the media quoted medical experts as saying that a study conducted at a leading hospital had identified malnutrition among children as a worsening issue. Due to the crisis in the overall economy, which has severely affected the importation of essentials and fertiliser, and due to the Government’s short-sighted plan to go fully organic, which crippled the agriculture sector even before the economic crisis, the country is now in a tight spot as far as food security is concerned. Cheaper sources of protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients have now become expensive food items, accessible to a limited few, and the people are left with no option but to prioritise their survival over the quality of their meals.  As mentioned, the Government has already asked people to grow food crops on every inch of farmable land, especially due to the famine that is said to be looming. However, feeding the hungry is merely the most basic solution to the issue, and immediate steps need to be taken to minimise the long-term impacts of malnutrition. The first step the Government must take is introducing cheaper alternatives. Even though the prices of most food items have skyrocketed, there are still cheaper sources of nutrients such as proteins and vitamins that the people know little about. At the same time, instead of merely asking citizens to grow food, the Government must also raise awareness among the people about the nutrients provided by different food crops for people to make judicious decisions regarding what to farm. In addition, there are other food items that the people have grown used to, and are looking for even during a food crisis, despite the availability of more available and affordable alternatives. The best example is the tendency for consumers to purchase milk powder over fresh milk. However, such matters need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis due to practical matters such as necessity and availability, and facilitating such attempts to enable the people to make better decisions is also the Government’s responsibility.  What’s more, it is time to consider food security a national priority on par with other sectors such as health and education. It will not only compel the Government to prioritise food security in its national policies, but it will also make Sri Lanka more eligible for international support for food-related assistance. However, the Government should demarcate the implementation of policies, and not the formation or empty promotion of such policies, as its cardinal responsibility. As a matter of fact, it is time for the Government to seek food- and agriculture-related assistance, in addition to the financial assistance it has prioritised.  Taking into account the urgency of the situation, as a short-term measure, the Government should also look into providing a subsidy to those in dire situations when it comes to obtaining nutritious food.  People's access to nutrition is not only a matter of the present. Malnutrition could create a generation with a weak immune system that is incapable of adequately performing as part of the country’s workforce. In the long run, the lack of access to nutritious food also affects children's brain development, and creates an intellectually impaired generation, which can in turn further worsen the country’s economic and social situations. Needles to say, the more malnourished the citizens of a country, the more healthcare expenses it will have to bear. In fact, this could be an issue that can prevail for more than one generation in many ways, and even if the economy is revived, addressing the impacts of malnutrition will not be simple by any means, and may take decades to recover from. The prevailing food shortage is no longer a matter that should only be seen as part of the economic crisis, as its effects have the potential to affect many aspects of the people's productivity and development, as well as the country’s image, including its health indicators – some of which are at significantly higher levels. Money can only be used to purchase food if there is food to buy, and therefore, ending the food crisis, preventing a famine, and ensuring people’s access to nutritious food, should be priorities in the process of steering the country out of this economic crisis.  


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