Nutrition is everybody’s business
While it is a common understanding that better nutrition leads to better health, improving the nutritional status of a country can have multiple positive effects, one of them being economic growth. Investment in nutrition is of utmost importance due to the long-term economic implications of an undernourished population.
A strong evidence base shows that investing in infant and young child nutrition can increase a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2-3%, prevent more than 1/3 of child deaths per year and increase school attainment by at least one year.
A key indicator of low nutritional status is the prevalence of stunting, i.e. low height for age, in children under age 5. South Asia alone accounts for almost half of the world’s population of stunted children. In Bangladesh, 41% of children under 5 are stunted.
The burden of malnutrition can be erased by focusing on a critical time range. A number of proven and profitable interventions exist to address malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, from a mother’s pregnancy to her child’s second birthday, which is known as a “window of opportunity.” Research identifies that the right nutrition during the first 1,000 days can produce a lifetime of benefits such as healthy growth, brain development and stronger immune systems. Further, the healthy physical and mental development of a child leads to her possessing a higher Intelligence Quotient (IQ), better educational performance, the potential to earn up to 46% more over her lifetime, and most importantly, break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
A well-nourished citizen is a healthy citizen, and a healthier labour force is more productive, in terms of both physical production and human capital production. This occurs due to productivity gains from reduced stunting and good educational performance, which are both attributable to good health in early childhood. There is no doubt that a productive workforce will not only enjoy a higher standard of living, but will be a key factor in the international competitiveness potential of a country.
Nutrition policy must be viewed as an investment in the future of the country, rather than a form of social spending for equity purposes with no return. Worldwide, better nutrition in the 1,000 days “window of opportunity” can save up to $20-30 billion in health costs, be it government spending, personal hospital visits or an employer’s expenses. The right nutrition is, therefore, a profitable venture for any economy.
Mehereen Aziz works for the Civil Society Alliance for Scaling Up Nutrition, Bangladesh.
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