Malnutrition News and Research

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Malnutrition is a condition which occurs when there is a deficiency of certain vital nutrients in a person’s diet. The deficiency fails to meet the demands of the body leading to effects on the growth, physical health, mood, behaviour and other functions of the body. Malnutrition commonly affects children and the elderly.

AlertNet footage shows scenes of food shortages in North Korea, says appeals for aid go unanswered

"Footage of malnourished North Korean orphans and official warnings over failed harvests have given a rare glimpse at the scale of devastating food shortages in the country following a harsh winter and widespread flooding," the Guardian reports.

7 Oct 2011

USAID, NGO partners testing nutritional impact assessment tool

USAID is working with non-governmental organization partners to test a "nutritional impact assessment tool" that "'would be a way for organizations designing or reviewing agricultural programs to mitigate any risks or potential negative effects on nutrition -- in other words a "do no harm" approach,' said Michael Zeilinger, head of the nutrition division with USAID's office of health, infectious disease and nutrition," IRIN reports.

28 Sep 2011

Peru hopes to continue fight against child malnutrition under new government

Despite a seven percent annual growth rate over the past five years and a prediction from former President Alan Garcia that Peru will meet the millennium development goals (MDGs), "chronic infant malnutrition has been difficult to stamp out, particularly in rural areas," the Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog" reports.

28 Sep 2011

PRI's 'The World' interviews member of delegation that investigated hunger in North Korea

PRI's "The World" recently spoke with Matt Ellingson, director of Program Development at Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization, who was part of a mission to North Korea this month during which five U.S.-based, non-governmental organizations were allowed to send observers to the country to monitor delivery of aid to areas affected by severe floods this past summer. The group "came away concerned about widespread malnutrition and starvation in North Korea" and "is now calling for an urgent humanitarian intervention," "The World" reports.

28 Sep 2011

Gender discrimination a driving factor behind malnutrition in Nepal, experts say

"Gender discrimination lies behind much of the malnutrition found in under-five children in Nepal, say locals and experts," IRIN reports. "Women live hard lives from day one, born with no fanfare, contrasting starkly to the six-day celebration to mark the birth of a boy.

23 Sep 2011

Annual World Disasters Report focuses on hunger and malnutrition, highlights dichotomy between economic classes

This year's annual World Disasters Report, published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Thursday, focuses on hunger and malnutrition, but highlights a growing gap between economic classes, the Australian reports, noting "15 percent of the world's population is going hungry while a record 20 percent now suffer the effects of 'excess nutrition'" (Hodge, 9/23).

23 Sep 2011

IFRC releases 2011 World Disaster Report

The world's most vulnerable populations remain at significant risk to the effects of food shortages and malnutrition according to the 2011 World Disaster Report (WDR) released today by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

23 Sep 2011

PepsiCo, WFP, USAID announce partnership to increase chickpea production, address hunger in Ethiopia

PepsiCo on Wednesday announced a public-private partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and USAID to increase chickpea production in Ethiopia in order to secure access to the legume, which "plays an increasing role in its food products," the New York Times reports.

23 Sep 2011

Addressing the exclusion of mental health from the MDGs

PRI's "The World" highlights the state of mental health care in Uganda in an examination of how the exclusion of mental health from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has, according to some advocates, held back mental health as a global health issue. Julius Kayiira, director of Mental Health Uganda, an organization that provides social support, job training and care to people with mental illness, "says organizations like his face an enormous funding gap, and he blames that gap, in part, on the United Nations," according to "The World."

22 Sep 2011

NC researchers proposes health-based approach to identify groups at high risk of genocide

Researchers from North Carolina State University are proposing a health-based approach to identifying groups at high risk of genocide, in a first-of-its-kind attempt to target international efforts to stop these mass killings before they start.

20 Sep 2011

Chad faces food security and health challenges, but opportunity exists for improvement, U.N. official says

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Chad Thomas Gurtner "says Chad faces daunting food security and health challenges" but that "peace and growing stability in Chad bodes well for the country's future," VOA News reports.

17 Sep 2011

Famine in Somalia testing advancements in coordination of care, food aid

The Washington Post examines how high rates of malnutrition among Somali children -- approximately 36 percent under age five are malnourished and almost 16 percent are severely malnourished, according to Somalia's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit -- are "the biggest test yet of recent improvements in assessing and treating malnutrition, changes that range from the coordination of care to the ingredients of food aid."

14 Sep 2011

IDF, Albert Einstein College of Medicine to host Global Diabetes Symposium

While infectious diseases tend to grab media headlines and public attention, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory diseases together comprise the number one killer in the world and represent a serious social and economic burden to developed and developing countries alike.

14 Sep 2011

Micronutrient powder helps prevent malnutrition in children up to two years old, study review shows

In a systematic review published by the Cochrane Collaboration last week, researchers found that the micronutrient powder used in recent years to combat malnutrition, anemia and iron deficiency in children was very helpful in preventing malnutrition in children six to 24 months old, VOA News reports.

12 Sep 2011

U.N. declares famine in sixth region of Somalia, expresses concern over spread of disease

The U.N. "announced Monday that Somalia's famine had spread to a sixth area within the country, with officials warning that 750,000 people could die in the next few months unless aid efforts were scaled up," the New York Times reports.

7 Sep 2011

Duodenal switch may lead to more weight loss but more complications: Study

A less usual and common type of obesity surgery may spur more weight loss than its far more popular cousin, gastric bypass - but at the price of greater long-term risks, researchers reported.

6 Sep 2011

UNFPA Executive Director to visit refugee camps in Kenya on 3 September

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is visiting refugee camps in Kenya to underscore the urgent needs of women affected by the famine in the Horn of Africa.

3 Sep 2011

Researchers inject cultured red blood cells created from HSCs into human donor

For the first time, researchers have successfully injected cultured red blood cells (cRBCs) created from human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into a human donor, according to study results published today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology.

3 Sep 2011

Progress in reducing child mortality rates at Somalia, Ethiopia border refugee camps is slow, U.S. official says

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Reuben Brigety, "the top U.S. official for refugee issues, ... says that despite intensive efforts, relief agencies have made little progress in reducing child mortality rates at refugee camps along Somalia's border with Ethiopia," VOA News reports.

3 Sep 2011

Crime and violence overshadowing malnutrition in Guatemalan presidential campaign

"Malnutrition, one of the leading killers of children under five in the Central American nation of Guatemala, is receiving scant attention on the campaign trail" ahead of the country's presidential elections scheduled for September, AlertNet reports.

25 Aug 2011

Malnutrition News and Research

Further Reading

AlertNet footage shows scenes of food shortages in North Korea, says appeals for aid go unanswered

USAID, NGO partners testing nutritional impact assessment tool

Peru hopes to continue fight against child malnutrition under new government

PRI's 'The World' interviews member of delegation that investigated hunger in North Korea

Gender discrimination a driving factor behind malnutrition in Nepal, experts say

Annual World Disasters Report focuses on hunger and malnutrition, highlights dichotomy between economic classes

IFRC releases 2011 World Disaster Report

PepsiCo, WFP, USAID announce partnership to increase chickpea production, address hunger in Ethiopia

Addressing the exclusion of mental health from the MDGs

NC researchers proposes health-based approach to identify groups at high risk of genocide

Chad faces food security and health challenges, but opportunity exists for improvement, U.N. official says

Famine in Somalia testing advancements in coordination of care, food aid

IDF, Albert Einstein College of Medicine to host Global Diabetes Symposium

Micronutrient powder helps prevent malnutrition in children up to two years old, study review shows

U.N. declares famine in sixth region of Somalia, expresses concern over spread of disease

Duodenal switch may lead to more weight loss but more complications: Study

UNFPA Executive Director to visit refugee camps in Kenya on 3 September

Researchers inject cultured red blood cells created from HSCs into human donor

Progress in reducing child mortality rates at Somalia, Ethiopia border refugee camps is slow, U.S. official says

Crime and violence overshadowing malnutrition in Guatemalan presidential campaign

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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