STILL ON THE MATTER. #NUTRITION.

There are a plethora of factors and 'sub factors' that make for a buoyant economy and improved livelihoods per capita but I beg to approach from the angle of nutrition and agricultural investments.

Malnutrition results to underweight and stunting(chronic malnutrition) in under five children. Acute malnutrition (wasting/ low weight for height) can be reversed if handled timely. However, chronic malnutrition (stunting) is irreversible and will predispose the  affected child to some challenges in adulthood : nutrition-related diseases due to prolonged micronutrient deficiencies, increased chances of having low birth weight children, learning deficiencies leading to poor school performance and reduced employability,  poverty and so on.

The effect of malnutrition is far reaching. It goes beyond the individual and family directly involved to spill over to the society at large. A society whose work force is largely made up of malnourished adults loses a lot in terms of reduced productivity, mentally and physically.   A society with high prevalence of malnutrition among children, is looking at a gloomy economic future as malnutrition hampers mental and physical development in children.  

It is thus needful for governments to #InvestInNutrition, as an integral part of economic development, via Building Nutritious Food Baskets, Agricultural support to small holders especially women, workable pro- agric policies, security of crops and farmlands, incentives to young agripreneurs, gender sensitive nutrition and agric interventions, Nutrition sensitisation campaigns, and so on. Governments need not be passive on issues bothering on #Nutrition. Private bodies and individuals also need to move out of the sidelines and take steps to improve nutrition. 

It is said that a $1 investment in Nutrition will yield $16 ROI. 

#InvestResponsibly.#InvestInNutrition