Controversy in India over the UN body’s support for the dissemination of lipid-based nutrients as a solution to a problem that seriously affects more than 900,000 children. The organizations denounce economic interests. The path promoted by the Welfare Society for Destitute Children in the villages of Maharashtra: “Activities with the poorest families to promote healthy nutrition according to traditional eating habits”.
(Mumbai) – UNICEF wants to boost the widespread distribution of lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) to combat child malnutrition. But this is not the correct way to truly face the problem. This is the belief of many organizations in India committed to this emergency, which affects at least 920,000 children in the country who suffer from severe malnutrition.
In response, UNICEF is encouraging countries to purchase SQ-LNS, food supplements based on bean paste, dried fruit, powdered milk with added mineral salts and micronutrients for distribution to children aged 6-24 months. A system that those who oppose it consider a shortcut to the problem of poverty, also exposed to strong conflicts of interest with manufacturing companies. In recent days, the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) has explicitly denounced the direct involvement of a manufacturing company -the French Nutriset- in the tests carried out by the UN agency on the nutritional efficacy of these supplements.
But beyond the economic aspect is the question of how this type of intervention affects cultural factors such as eating habits and the acceptance of food. Brother Joseph, the religious who in the Indian state of Maharashtra directs the Welfare Society for Destitute Children, one of the works founded sixty years ago by Father Anthony Elenjimittam, with the Santa Catalina de Siena orphanage, is also convinced of this. “We are engaged in the fight against malnutrition in Murbad, a subdivision of Thane district with more than 90 villages,” he explained. “We work precisely on eating habits, promoting healthy behaviors. In these remote rural areas, our social workers are currently promoting activities with 150 families that participate in our programs. We encourage women and children to undergo periodic medical check-ups. When the food they eat are not nutritious, it is important to give them nutritious foods rich in protein, iron and minerals, but in accordance with their traditional eating habits.”
In short: food supplements can be important, but where they are really needed. And without forgetting that malnutrition is a consequence of poverty, which is the area on which action must be taken as a priority. Finally, Brother Joseph recalled that these interventions are offered free of charge to all, without discrimination of caste or faith, according to the vision and mission of Father Anthony Elenjimittam.
