The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has called on governments to end childhood malnutrition. Simple, affordable solutions can help children reach their potential and drive economic growth. In South Africa, child malnutrition is a serious issue. The 2016 SA Demographic and Health Survey found that 27% of children under five are stunted.
Stunting means children are too short for their age and may have lifelong cognitive challenges. Wasting, which makes children weak and underweight, also affects millions globally. Bill Gates called malnutrition the “world’s worst child health crisis” and warned that climate change is worsening the problem.
Malnutrition is “the world’s worst child health crisis”
Without action, 40 million more children could be stunted, and 28 million could face wasting by 2050. In 2023, about 148 million children were stunted, and 45 million were wasted, according to the World Health Organisation.
Affordable prenatal supplements could save lives
Improving nutrition through food fortification and prenatal supplements could save lives and improve health outcomes. For example, providing vitamin supplements to pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries could save nearly 500,000 lives by 2040.
Foreign aid to Africa has decreased since 2010 despite the region accounting for over half of child deaths worldwide. Gates urged donors to maintain funding for global health and support programmes like the Child Nutrition Fund, which aims to end stunting and wasting.
Investing in children’s health now will lead to a healthier, more productive future workforce, the foundation stressed. Without action, the costs to society will be huge.