When a child is malnourished, they lack the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need to keep their bodies and minds healthy. Without these nutrients, they are more likely to be tired, have trouble with schoolwork, and develop health problems.
Furthermore, malnutrition can lead to various physical, behavioural, and cognitive effects significant to school performance. Stunted physical growth and weight loss can result in delayed puberty and lower IQ. Chronic malnutrition can lead to a lack of energy, which may cause a child to feel fatigued, slow, and clumsy. This often results in school absences.
In addition, malnutrition has been linked to the development and persistence of ADHD. The cognitive effects of malnutrition may include mental fatigue, concentration, and learning difficulties. Moreover, malnutrition puts children at great risk for infection and illness, increasing the direct costs of school attendance. Malnourished children also tend to be uncooperative, which can significantly decrease the ability of teachers to manage the classroom.
The best way to tackle malnutrition is to provide a child with a balanced diet consisting of grains, meat, and vegetables. The government can help by providing food for those who can't afford it.
Mid-day meal program are also a good way to feed children who may not be able to avail nutritious food at home. This ensures that children from poor families will not drop out of school or have low enrollment rates and access to better food. Food NGOs such as Annamrita Foundation work on similar lines, and they help provide food to children from poor backgrounds.
The government should also set up more food NGOs that provide food regularly to the poor and needy. School meal program, however, are not enough to solve the problem. We need to tackle the supply problem as well. There needs to be more food grown sustainably.
Children should be taught about a nutritious diet and its importance of it. Remember, the best way to tackle malnutrition problems is to prevent them, and the best way to prevent them is to provide children with good food.
