HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN

Nutrition in health or disease, health consequences of nutritional deprivation or abundance, the logistics of providing adequate nutrients to the community and the population in normal / or during national or international calamities caused by natural disasters or catastrophes remain challenges for medical practitioners, nutritionists, government and non government agencies. Scientists are interested in nutrition because it is a dynamic field for investigation. Pediatricians and nutritionists are interested in nutrition because it is essential for health and growth during childhood; lack of adequate food or acute or chronic illness leading to nutritional inadequacy have been shown to have short, medium and long term consequences on growth and health. Our country had the misfortune of being subjected to nutritional deprivation caused by repeated invasions and colonial rules for centuries. We were also subjected to numerous famines, epidemics and natural disasters including floods, earthquakes and post independence the country became self sufficient in food due to green revolution, the country also achieved multidimensional progress in the socio-economic, educational, administrative, infrastructural and health sectors. In the past two decades the country has seen a dramatic change in life styles particularly in urban areas due to the availability of food, access to health care, exposure to television, fast food chains and computers. Thus, today we see a spectrum of health consequences caused by acute and chroni