In the
months leading up to and beginning 2013, many organizations are rethinking
strategies for addressing the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]. The MDGs
were originally written to be accomplished by 2015, a date that is very quickly
approaching.
Caminante is
a partner organization of UNICEF and Church World Services, two organizations
that are working diligently to see that the MDGs are met. Both have recently
posted articles pointing to the importance of child health and nutrition
security in the achievement of all other goals. A “new” term is filling the
discussion around the MDGs, stunting. A UNICEF press release defines the trend,
“Stunting occurs when a child is deprived of
critical nutrition elements at any time during his or her mother’s pregnancy
right up to their second birthday. It causes permanent, irreversible
damage to a child’s development and greatly reduces his or her capacity to
learn in school, or earn a decent living as an adult, perpetuating the cycle of
poverty” (April, 2012). Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life is critical.
Maternal health is an MDG incredibly important to this new focus. Even
before a child is born, malnutrition and poor care of a pregnant mother can
jump start the stunting process. Caminante is making excellent strides in this
area by accompanying teen mothers to doctor’s appointments and covering medical
bills for said appointments and the necessary vitamins. This program ensures
that teen mothers receive the medical attention and psychological support throughout
their pregnancy, things they may not receive elsewhere. The psychological
support and friendships continue after the baby’s birth. Caminante and its
staff regularly receive visits from mothers and their newborns. In addition,
Caminante regularly holds classes for teens and families about preventing teen pregnancy
and promoting talking about sex with your children.
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| Mothers Class |
“If we don’t ensure that our children get nutritious
food, especially during the first 1000 days of their life – which also means
that we need to ensure to take good care of pregnant and lactating mothers --
then we will not be to able to claim that we’re truly doing enough to give all
the children of this world the chance they deserve to live out their lives in
happiness and to their full potential” (CWS, December, 2012).
Stunting and child nutrition directly affects nearly
every MDG and the global community’s capacity to reach the MDGs in 2015. A good
education, overall health, prevention of HIV/Aids, and overcoming cycled poverty
are all significantly less achievable for a child with malnutrition and stunted
growth in the first 1,000 days of life.
President Obama, in a recent speech, stated, “This is our
first task, caring for our children. It's our first job. If we don't get that
right, we don't get anything right. That's how, as a society, we will be judged”
(Newton Vigil, December, 2012). While he was speaking about the physical
safety of US children in schools, his statement goes so much further. Taking
care of children is essential to their and our future as a global community.
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