Читать книгу The Road to Good Nutrition - Группа авторов - Страница 112

Senior Nutritionist and WFP’s Global Coordinator UNAIDS - United Nations World Food Program; Adjunct Associate Professor, - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA; Adjunct Associate Professor, - Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, USA

While the prevention of chronic undernutrition, or stunting, should be everyone’s concern, because of the widespread consequences for schooling, economic development, long-term health etc, its prevention should ultimately result from better meeting children’s nutrient requirements, and preventing an increase thereof, during the critical window of opportunity (conception to two years of age). Therefore, nutrition-specific actions, complemented with nutrition-sensitive approaches, are key. In the human rights documents, nutrition is only considered as a determinant to health, and the right to food only mentins access to “nutritious food” but none of the “human rights” documents recognizes the importance of nutrients in the sense that all required nutrients should be provided in adequate amounts. The particular need of children 6-24 months for nutrient-dense foods is very specific and the fact that these needs are difficult to meet from local foods for large segments of the world population urges for a discussion on the right to nutrients to prevent chronic undernutrition. Furthermore, meeting nutrient requirements of adolescent girls and women, particularly during pregnancy and lactation, should be prioritized as well, in order to protect their health and give their children the right start in life.