‘Hidden Hunger Index’ Identifies Global Hot Spots

‘Hidden Hunger Index’ Identifies Global Hot Spots of Micronutrient Deficiencies For First Time

New findings can advance development through improved nutrition.

A first-of-its-kind global map and indices of micronutrient deficiencies – a public health problem that affects two billion people worldwide and seriously hinders economic development found that hidden hunger hot spots are in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Afghanistan, and are severe in many countries in South-Central/South-East Asia. Published last week in the journal PLOS ONE and developed by humanitarian nutrition think tank, Sight and Life, these ‘Hidden Hunger Index’ maps and rankings offer the health and development community an evidence-based tool to target the alleviation of multiple micronutrient deficiencies, which is critical to achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals.

Orphans Aid International, a New Zealand charity working with street-children in extreme poverty in India and sub-Saharan Africa, are committed to the achievement of the MDG’s. Founder and chief executive Sue van Schreven commented, “We are excited that this research has been undertaken. For the first time, we are able to see clearly regions where pre-school aged children are not getting the nutrition they need. Although they may be eating some food, it’s not meeting their needs, and will lead to death and disease. As one of many aid agencies internationally, we can now all plan better long-term solutions to see the needs of the world’s most vulnerable children met.”

“Hidden hunger, a chronic lack of micronutrients, robs individuals of their potential by negatively and permanently affecting their physical and mental development. To tackle this grave problem, we need to know where the burden is highest. Now, for the first time, we do. My hope is that this new Hidden Hunger Index will serve as a useful advocacy tool in policy decisions to spur the scale-up of proven nutrition interventions like food fortification and multiple micronutrient supplementation,” said Klaus Kraemer, Ph.D., corresponding author of the paper, “The Global Hidden Hunger Indices and Maps: An Advocacy Tool for Action.”

Hidden hunger accounts for approximately seven percent of the global disease burden. Iron deficiency anemia, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies rank among the 15 leading causes of disease burden, costing 225 billion NZD worldwide annually. The Hidden Hunger Index maps, for the first time, show the combined prevalence in preschool children of multiple micronutrient deficiencies: vitamin A, zinc and iron, as well as iodine.

The paper found that there were global hot spots of hidden hunger, with the prevalence alarmingly high in sub-Saharan Africa as well as India and Afghanistan, and severe in many countries in South-Central/South-East Asia. For children in most of the 20 countries with the highest Hidden Hunger Index scores, more than 40 percent were estimated to be stunted/zinc-deficient, 30 percent were anemic due to iron deficiency and half were vitamin A deficient. In 36 countries, home to 90 percent of the world’s stunted children, micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamin A and zinc, were responsible for up to 12 percent of the total number of life years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death.

With Orphans Aid International participating in this years Live Below The Line event in New Zealand, the charity is set to raise funds for abandoned children in extreme poverty and raise awareness for the 150 million orphans needing help – many of whom have micronutrient deficiencies – as well as the continuation of progress being made through the Millennium Development Goals.

View links at www.orphansaidinternational.org/hiddenhunger for the Hidden Hunger Index developed by Sight and Sound in Switzerland, with input of high-level scientists, academics and decision makers from a range of global institutions, including UN agencies, U.S. government agencies, universities and international NGOs.

ENDS

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