Malnutrition is found in a large population of people around the world,with 795 million people not having enough food to live a healthy and active life. Sub Sahara Africa accounts for a large population of under nourished and malnourished people.
Malnutrition which stems from inadequate food both in quality and quantity resulting in stunted growth and development is the bane of many developing and underdeveloped countries.
The goal to end poverty and hunger has the root at preventing malnutrition in children especially as well as adults.
The growth rate and intellectual capacity in areas where there is malnutrition is very low with high prevalence of diseases and subsequently death
.One out of six children which is roughly about 100 million in developing countries is underweight and one in four of the world's children are stunted. In developing countries the rate is one in three with 66 million primary school-age children attending classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.
Women that are malnourished are at high risk during pregnancy as adequate nutrients for growth and nurturing of fetus is not available leading to physical strains,emotional imbalance and exposure to various diseases and infection as body immune system is compromised.
Poor nutrition causes nearly 45% of deaths in children under five ,which is about 3.1 million children each year.
Empowerment,education and encouragement of farmers especially women will go a long way to curb malnutrition and prevent deaths in women and children.
When women farmers are given the same access to resources as men, they will reduce the number of hungry people in the world by up to 150 million.
Malnutrition in found all over the country but its more prevalent in certain areas than others.41% of children under 5 years of age are stunted and 23% underweight with a prevalence of vitamin A deficiency reaching 29.5%.
The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency is a public health concern that WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION has listed Nigeria amongst countries with high risk of Vitamin A deficiency(VAD)
The VAD increases the risk of disease, death in children ,visual impairment,night-blindness in pregnant and lactating women
.The introduction of food rich in vitamin A will go a long way to ensure healthy lifestyle for the people.Educating people about food combinations,additives and meal preparations will expose people to food exploration for health and well-being.
Cassava called Manihot esculenta, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.
Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize.
Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN AND FOOD
SECURITY.
Echbee Food has found a new niche where garri a cassava by-product can be turned into nutritious wholesome foods and
snacks. Echbee foods uses the vitamin A cassava for all her product in line with the vision of the company to end malnutrition. The first product is cassava flakes, a highly nutritious
cereal fortified with vitamins and enriched with nuts fashioned after the corn flakes to provide wholesome,nutritious
cereal.
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Read how
cassava can help with sustainable goals. #end hunger #no poverty
