Urge Congress to Do More to Fight Malnutrition
- by: Save the Children Action Network
- recipient: U.S. Congress
Olivia Wilde in the Za'atari Refugee Camp with Anas*
Meet Anas.
Anas participates in a kindergarten program in the Za’atari Syrian refugee camp where he lives. At school he receives a snack. A snack may seem like a little thing but it’s a big deal here. That’s because malnutrition is a serious issue facing Syrian refugee children living in Za’atari. Nearly one in five children under age 5 are stunted, meaning their brains and bodies aren’t growing to their potential because they aren’t getting the nutritious food they need.
Every child deserves a strong start in life, no matter who they are or where they live. Yet, in poor countries, 4 in 10 children are malnourished, damaging their bodies and their brains – and risking their futures. Tragically, malnutrition results in the needless deaths of approximately three million children each year.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We know what works to treat malnutrition. Low-cost, high impact nutrition programs can save the lives of millions of children. Investing in better nutrition for children is a down payment toward ensuring future prosperity of communities and ending preventable child and maternal deaths.
Please send a message today urging your members of Congress to increase funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Nutrition in Global Health program.
*Name changed to protect his identity.
Dear [Congress person],
I believe no child should suffer from malnutrition. Yet four in 10 children in poor countries are malnourished, damaging their bodies and their brains. And, malnutrition results in approximately three million kids’ lives needlessly lost each year.
To prevent and treat malnutrition around the world, I urge you to support a funding increase to $230 million for USAID Nutrition in Global Health programs.
This funding level would help us build on the significant progress the world, with U.S. leadership, has made over the last two decades. The number of children under age 5 who have died from preventable causes, like malnutrition, has been cut in half.
Robust U.S. investment in nutrition is critical. Nutrition affects every aspect of human development—from impacting a child’s ability to learn to one’s ability to fighting off diseases, to economic advancement.
For example, research shows that a child who is malnourished is 20 percent less able to read and will earn as much as 40 percent less later in life.
Recent research produced by Results for Development and the World Bank estimates that globally at minimum it will cost $22 billion over the next 10 years to significantly reduce malnutrition. $230 million is a very small down payment towards reducing this global financing gap.
I urge you to support a doubling of funding for nutrition as malnutrition continues to be the underlying cause of 45 percent of deaths in children under age 5. Countries experiencing high malnutrition need continued U.S. support and resources.
[Your comments here]
I hope you will support efforts to help children everywhere survive and thrive.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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