One in two children suffers from chronic malnutrition in Ecuador
In Ecuador, one out of every four children under the age of five suffers from chronic malnutrition; however, the problem mainly affects rural communities. Thus, in Cotopaxi, Pujilí and Saquisilí one out of every two children is born with chronic malnutrition.
In indigenous communities, four out of ten children develop anemia due to poor diet. At Sablog Central there are 39 children under 5 years of age, and almost all of them are alarmingly delayed in weight and height. This reality is repeated in 59 communities in Guamote, a canton located one hour from Riobamba, in Chimborazo.
The Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) carried out a study in rural communities that revealed that in Guano 62.3% of children suffer from malnutrition, in Alausí 57.6% of infants suffer from the problem, in Guamote and Colta 55 1% and 52.5% of infants are poorly fed, in Riobamba 51.9% of minors live with malnutrition. The PUCE academics wrote a letter to the President where they state that:
“Chronic child malnutrition has an indigenous face and shows the hidden prevalence of ethnic origin discrimination in Ecuadorian society.”
On the other hand, the consumption of water in poor conditions has caused malnutrition to be accompanied by stomach problems and parasites. 10.8% of children under 5 years of age have a diarrheal illness and 34.2% have an acute respiratory infection.
A chronically malnourished child may have learning disabilities in school, overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension or diabetes in adult life, and other difficulties in her life.
The Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) is developing intersectoral roundtables to coordinate actions and prevent chronic child malnutrition. In addition, they are going to conduct a survey to learn more about the problem in the country.
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