Maithili Sharan Gupt, national poet, wrote:
Abla jeevan hai tumhari,
Aanchal mein hai doodh
aur ankhon mein pani

The persistence of hunger and abject poverty across the world is largely due to the subjugation, marginalisation and disempowerment of women. Malnutrition, defined as the state of being underweight, is a serious public-health problem linked to a substantial increase in the risk of mortality and morbidity. Women and young children associated with malnutrition bear the brunt of the disease burden. In Africa and South Asia, 27"51% of reproductive women are underweight1, and it is predicted that about 130 million children (21% of all children)2 will be underweight in 2005. Many of the 30 million low birth weight babies born annually (23.8% of all births) face severe short-term and long-term health consequences.
 
Malnutrition is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. It can create and perpetuate poverty, which triggers a cycle hampering economic and social development and contributes to unsustainable resource use and the resultant environmental degradation.

The nutritional status of women and children is of particular importance, because it is through women and their off-spring that the pernicious effects of malnutrition are propagated to future generations. A malnourished mother is likely to give birth to a low birth weight (LBW) baby susceptible to diseases and premature death, which only further undermines the economic development of the family and society, and continues to propagate the vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

The concept of improving women’s nutrition for their own sakes - rather than just as mothers - needs to be fostered. There is no doubt that a woman whose basic nutritional and health needs are met will be in a better position to meet the needs of her family. Specific nutritional deficiencies such as those of iron and iodine must be tackled (and they can be, at low cost), with all women forming the target group. Better targeting of supplementary feeding at those most at risk of malnutrition, and job creation and literacy programmes will help to address the more intractable problem of protein-energy malnutrition. The nutritional status of women can also be considerably influenced by attention during adolescence, with ‘spin-off’ benefits also available to their future.

The critical role of female literacy in improving women’s overall health and nutritional status needs to be well recognised. The coincidence of girls’ adolescence and school drop out rate signals the need for focusing on education systems on keeping the girls in schools. This may be done through providing special incentives, public education and offering alternative forms of education. It is important to provide basic vocational skills, enhancing girls’ employability, and delaying their marriage until they are physically prepared to bear children.
 
While these are longer-term goals, in the short term, efforts must be increased to specifically improve women’s knowledge of health, nutrition and hygiene. The communication of basic nutrition information - based on a proper understanding of existing knowledge, attitudes and practices - and involving health workers, primary school teachers, women extension officers, and other frontline workers reinforced by appropriate use of the mass media can help empower the women to successfully address the burning issue of malnutrition. q           

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