Food security and nutrition issue was not covered in the media with due importance; especially nutrition issue of teenagers, adolescents, and girls with disabilities was unheard and uncovered. In fact, in news media we trust as dependable channels to give us reliable information (i.e. news, entertainment, education). However, the influence of mass media on our children, teenagers, adolescents and society is so big. For many reasons, teenagers and adolescent girls deserve more attention, and to be well-informed about their life-saving issues. Because they are the future mothers. Giving birth of healthy children depends on ensuring their food security and nutrition. Ensuring nutrition of adolescent girls
Nutrition inequities are also driven by political, economic, geographic and social factors, and multiple malnutrition burdens disproportionately affect girls and women
PARVEZ BABUL
Food security and nutrition issue was not covered in the media with due importance; especially nutrition issue of teenagers, adolescents, and girls with disabilities was unheard and uncovered. In fact, in news media we trust as dependable channels to give us reliable information (i.e. news, entertainment, education). However, the influence of mass media on our children, teenagers, adolescents and society is so big. For many reasons, teenagers and adolescent girls deserve more attention, and to be well-informed about their life-saving issues. Because they are the future mothers. Giving birth of healthy children depends on ensuring their food security and nutrition.
Considering the vulnerabilities the adolescent girls face include child/ forced marriage, violence, discrimination, malnutrition, poverty, less care, inadequate nutritious food, insufficient investment in physical and mental health services, drop out/ breakup of education, ignorance on hygienic practices during menstruation and reproductive health, becoming mothers at early age, and a few to mention--require huge importance to address those interlinked, cross-cutting issues. Unfortunately and unnecessarily those make the girls and women vulnerable and disadvantaged in Bangladesh, South Asia, other developing and least developed countries (LDCs). Given emphasize on Public Private Partnership (PPP), Government and other stakeholders should engage print, electronic and social media, as key stakeholders to fight against all the odds in the prospective lives of teenagers and adolescent girls. Media should come forward to be more responsive and supportive to accommodate the issues for national interest.
Nutrition in adolescent girls and women: The State of Nutrition in Bangladesh 2015, published by Helen Keller International, BRAC University and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics mentioned that in 2014 nationally, 54 percent of women consumed an inadequately diverse diet. This rate is much higher for rural women and highest in Barisal, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Adolescent, under 18 mothers with under five children are shorter: 44 percent than those without children: 24 percent. This underlines the interrelationship between child marriage, poverty and the effect of early pregnancy on linear growth. Income-earning adolescent girls were more likely to be of short stature compared to those who were not engaged in some form of wage employment. The nutritional status of adult women is associated with wealth and food security status.
Experts say that the challenges are exacerbated among marginalized girls, such as members of ethnic minorities or those living in poverty or remote, hard to reach areas. Too many girls are denied the right to education and equal opportunities, keeping them in the cycle of poverty. Investing in and unlocking the potential of teenage girls and young women everywhere should be a top priority, so that they can pursue a world of equality: a Planet 50-50 by 2030.
Nutrition inequities are also driven by political, economic, geographic and social factors, and multiple malnutrition burdens disproportionately affect girls and women. Improved food security and nutrition helps foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Those should be addressed in ways that promote sustainable consumption and production, can protect the planet from environmental degradation, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Investing in nutrition has the potential to pay significant dividends in breaking the poverty cycle and in stimulating economic development. Malnourished children, teenage and adolescent girls in the poorest income groups are most likely to face multiple deficits. They require effective intervention coverage for prevention, treatment and care.
Research shows that one in every nine people in the world, representing the most vulnerable group, are currently unable to consume enough food to conduct an active and healthy life. To prevent enormous challenges the girls face, to eradicate hunger, prevent malnutrition, and to stop child marriage, we should invest in teenage, adolescent girls. Todays timely investment in them, will bring a big return tomorrow for the whole nation that helps reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
United Nations (UN) Decade of Action on Nutrition: 2016-2025: The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution on April 01, 2016 proclaiming a UN Decade of Action on Nutrition from 2016 to 2025. The resolution aims to trigger intensified action to end hunger and eradicate malnutrition worldwide. And ensure universal access to healthier and more sustainable diets for all people, whoever they are and wherever they live. It calls on governments to set national nutrition targets for 2025 and milestones based on internationally agreed indicators.
Ministers from around the world came together at an event titled Leaving no-one behind in the fight against malnutrition in all its forms on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, USA on mid- July this year 2016.
Mr. Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations inaugurated the event. He argued that nutrition is a maker and a marker of sustainable development. Twelve of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contain indicators that track important inputs in nutrition. He also called for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound commitments to address the need in hand.
The speakers at the event opined that nearly 800 million people remain chronically undernourished; another two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Some other two billion people are overweight, of which 600 million are obese.
The only way to address these challenges is to work together until the goals are met. So, to fight against malnutrition: political commitment, effective partnerships with key actors including media, to use and mobilization of existing policy frameworks, promotion of knowledge and information on nutrition are urgently required to work thru integrated, comprehensive approach.
We need to keep in mind that inclusion is a powerful concept. No effort towards inclusiveness will be effective if it does not entail equal opportunities for girls and women and end to all forms of gender discrimination.
Women and girls participation is vital in the economic, social, educational and public dimensions of life in their communities and their countries.
The international community clearly recognizes that only by advancing the health, safety, equality of girls and women, enhancing their opportunities for leadership and economic empowerment, will the 2030 agenda be achieved. States should ensure that all voices heard and no one is left behind.
Everyone, every media person, even every social media user ought to be the catalyst for change in the Decade of Action on Nutrition. Because every nation is affected by malnutrition, and confined in a vicious cycle for decades. And the girls and women must get out/release from their life-threatening confinement.
The writer is a development activist and author of several books on womens empowerment, food security, nutrition and climate change. email: [email protected]
