In Canada, a remarkable organization is making significant strides in addressing global malnutrition, yet many citizens remain unaware of its efforts. However, those within the Treasury are well-informed, especially considering the Canadian government committed $150 million in November, with an additional $3.5 billion pledged over the next five years.
A world of change
Established in 1992 and based in Ottawa, the Micronutrient Initiative (MI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to collaborating with governments, other NGOs, private sectors, and both local and international allies across over 70 countries, all to deliver essential nutrients to the world’s most at-risk populations.
Among its various regional offices, the one located in Dakar, Senegal, oversees initiatives throughout Africa, which include vital programs like vitamin A supplementation for children, iodine fortification in salt, and overall food enrichment. Similar efforts in the Americas are coordinated from the Ottawa office, while the New Delhi office focuses on combating malnutrition in Asia.
Did you know?
In Asia, approximately 22 million infants are affected by iodine deficiency, which is one of the primary causes of preventable cognitive impairments.
Firsthand experiences
Roughly 2 billion individuals globally suffer from malnutrition, which is linked to nearly one-third of child mortality rates every year. In 2013, MI supported initiatives benefiting almost 500 million people to combat this issue.
During a recent field trip to Gujarat, India, MI’s president Joel Spicer gained valuable insights into the crucial need for assistance from Canada and other nations for safeguarding humanity’s future.
As a father of three young children, Spicer understands the appropriate growth parameters for healthy children. However, he was confronted with the harsh reality in Gujarat, where around 43 percent of children under the age of five are malnourished, resulting in tragic developmental stunting.
Spicer noted that many 11-year-olds appeared to be only six, and when he held them, their fragility was striking. “Picking up a child feels like lifting a sack of cloth. It leaves a strong impression,” he recounted during a phone interview.
Even more disturbing was the discovery that a girl who seemed to be nine was actually 16 and on the verge of marriage. “This girl will experience pregnancy while malnourished, putting her child at risk of stunted growth,” he explained.
To break this cycle is essential, and organizations like MI, along with similar-minded partners—if Spicer’s vision materializes—are stepping up.
The critical 1,000 days
Malnutrition encompasses more than just food scarcity. MI’s mission of achieving “a world devoid of hidden hunger” focuses on addressing the body’s urgent need for essential nutrients crucial for health and future opportunities for generations to come.
Spicer cites anemia as a significant issue, affecting 500 million women globally, with about 40 percent of pregnant women impacted. “If we consider women to be the engines of society, these engines are adversely affected by the lack of nutrients,” he remarked.
Yet, there exists a pivotal 1,000-day period from conception to a child’s second birthday, during which interventions can most effectively disrupt the cycle of malnutrition. Addressing issues during this window enhances children’s survival rates, reduces future health concerns, and increases the chances of them achieving their full potential.
“This is where MI is intensifying its efforts,” noted Spicer, reflecting the organization’s strategic plan for 2013 to 2018 available at micronutrient.org.
Affordable solutions for better lives
Spicer highlights MI’s commitment to low-cost, high-impact approaches. “While this doesn’t resolve all their challenges, it addresses fundamental nutritional needs that foster resilience against future adversities.”
For just 90 cents for three months, MI can provide crucial iron and folic acid to protect the health of pregnant women and prevent fetal defects.
Additionally, the lack of iodine results in goiter and impairs cognitive function; through partnerships focused on salt iodization, MI has managed to cut costs to just five cents per person per year.
MI supplies around 75 percent of the global need for vitamin A, necessary to avert blindness, at a cost of merely two cents per capsule, thanks to a Canadian partner—a model of the private sector-NGO collaboration Spicer aims to expand.
Beyond improving the health of millions, studies suggest that every dollar invested in tackling malnutrition in children yields a return of $17 in benefits.
Compassion in action
“We hope to expand our efforts,” Spicer asserts. “Many governments in developing nations require assistance and time to make progress.”
While MI does not currently offer a means for individual donations, Spicer emphasizes the pride Canadians should feel knowing that the Prime Minister participated in the distribution of the eight-billionth vitamin A capsule at an MI site in Dakar, Senegal, on November 30, 2014.
“We aim to raise awareness about this work and foster pride in it while acknowledging the ongoing need for increased action,” Spicer explains. “Canada has emerged as a leader in global nutrition funding, but the growing efforts still fall short of addressing the vast needs.”
“We require a thoroughly enhanced strategy to attain breakthroughs, bringing together the strengths of NGOs, governments, and the private sector in search of solutions. The essential question is: How do we want Canada to be recognized globally?”
“My desire is for Canada to be synonymous with compassion in action. By uniting our collective skills and empathy, we can achieve remarkable results.”
The impact of Canada’s $150 million commitment
- Up to 1 million lives can be saved. Two doses of vitamin A annually will be administered to at least 150 million children under five.
- Iron and folic acid supplements will enhance the health of 3.4 million pregnant women and benefit their newborns.
- 13 million children suffering from diarrhea, a primary cause of child mortality, will receive zinc and oral rehydration salts.
- 120 million individuals will have access to iodized salt, safeguarding over 500,000 infants from cognitive impairments.
