Fighting Malnutrition Around the World

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CHAPTER In the Chapter Mystery, you unraveled the link between vitamin D and the scourge of MYSTERY rickets that afflicted many malnourished children in northern climates early in the THE DEMISE twentieth century. Though this disease has OF A DISEASE been largely eradicated in this country, many millions of children worldwide still suffer from 21st Century Learning vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Fighting Malnutrition Around the World The problem of child malnutrition is so pressing and dire that many governmental and nonprofit organizations have pledged to combat it. One such effort is by the nonprofit Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Foundation has announced that it would award $25 million in grants to support “biofortification.” This approach involves breeding crops that provide higher levels of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Read the facts below, from a United Nations report, to learn more about the scope of the problem that spurred the Gates Foundation to action:

Report on Childhood women in developing countries. It is also a leading cause of blindness in children in Vitamin and Mineral developing countries. Vitamin A deficiency Deficiencies weakens the immune system, increasing vulnerability to disease and risk of dying A Global Problem from diarrhea, measles, and malaria.  Iodine deficiency affects 780 million  Iron deficiency, the most prevalent form of people worldwide. The clearest symptom is malnutrition worldwide, affects billions of people. a swelling of the thyroid gland called a Iron carries oxygen in the blood, so symptoms of a goiter. But the most serious impact is on the deficiency include tiredness and pallor. Lack of brain, which cannot develop properly iron in large segments of the population severely without iodine. According to UN research, damages a country’s productivity. Iron deficiency each year 20 million children are born also impedes cognitive development. In impaired because their mothers did not developing countries, it affects over half of consume enough iodine. The most severe children aged 6–24 months, a time when the brain deficiencies result in mental retardation and is developing rapidly. physical stunting.  Vitamin A deficiency affects 127 million  Zinc deficiency contributes to growth preschool children and six million pregnant failure and weakened immunity in young children. It is linked to a higher risk of diarrhea and pneumonia, resulting in nearly 800,000 deaths per year worldwide.

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21st Century Themes Science and Global Awareness, Science and Health Literacy 1. What are some of the vitamin and mineral deficiencies other than vitamin D that affect children and adults around the world today?

2. What percentage of children aged six months to two years old are estimated to suffer from a deficiency in iron? 3. How many preschool children are thought to suffer from a vitamin A deficiency, and what are the health effects associated with it?

4. What is “biofortification” and how can it help combat vitamin and mineral deficiencies?

5. Do you agree that the problem of vitamin and mineral deficiencies among the world’s children needs urgent attention? Explain.

6. Do you think that a focus on biofortification can help? Why or why not?

21st Century Skills Memo to the Gates Foundation The skills used in this activity include critical thinking and systems thinking; problem identification, formulation, and solution; creativity and intellectual curiosity; information and media literacy; and social responsibility. On the Internet, visit Web sites that map problems of hunger and malnutrition around the world. You might try the Web site of the World Food Program of the United Nations. Based on your research, draft a brief letter to the Gates Foundation. State where you think the need is greatest and outline the steps you think the foundation should consider taking to combat vitamin and mineral deficiencies.