By Anthony Emeka Nwosu, Conn8 Media Solutions NG
At the ongoing 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Dr. Murtala Adogi Mohammed, a renowned futurist and policy entrepreneur, raised alarm over the global child malnutrition crisis during his reflections on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Goalkeepers 2024” event. The founder and CEO of System Strategy & Policy Lab in Nigeria underscored the critical intersection of nutrition, climate change, and global health, emphasizing that nations cannot progress if their people, particularly children, are not adequately nourished.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Goalkeepers event, Dr. Mohammed recounted key insights shared by Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who unveiled the 2024 Goalkeepers Report on Nutrition. Gates drew attention to the severe global child health crisis, noting, “The world’s worst child health crisis is malnutrition, and no country—no matter how wealthy—is immune.”
The Malnutrition Crisis: A Stark Reality
Gates’ remarks shed light on the staggering impact of malnutrition, which has become an escalating global challenge. According to UNICEF’s recent report on child food poverty, two-thirds of the world’s children—over 400 million—are not receiving the necessary nutrients to grow and thrive. This reality places them at severe risk of malnutrition, jeopardizing their ability to develop properly, both physically and mentally.
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 148 million children worldwide suffered from stunting—an indicator of chronic malnutrition—while 45 million experienced wasting, a life-threatening condition caused by severe acute malnutrition. These figures highlight the grim scale of the crisis, which continues to prevent millions of children from reaching their full potential or, in the worst cases, from surviving at all.
Climate Change Worsening Child Malnutrition
Dr. Mohammed further stressed how climate change is exacerbating the already dire situation. “Climate change is making this crisis even harder to solve,” he remarked, pointing to the findings from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Between 2024 and 2050, climate change is projected to result in an additional 40 million stunted children and 28 million more suffering from wasting, as rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions impact global food production and access.
These revelations underscore the urgent need for coordinated global action to address both malnutrition and climate change, which are intricately linked. As climate-induced food shortages increase, the number of children at risk of hunger and malnutrition will inevitably rise. Dr. Mohammed emphasized that without substantial global health investments and climate adaptation strategies, future generations, particularly in vulnerable regions, will continue to bear the brunt of this dual crisis.
Call to Action: Investing in Global Health
Dr. Mohammed echoed Bill Gates’ call for significant global health investments to mitigate the effects of hunger on children. “To shield children from the devastating effects of hunger, global health investment is essential,” Gates stated, noting that both public and private sector collaboration is critical in addressing the intertwined crises of malnutrition and climate change.
As UNGA continues, Dr. Mohammed urged world leaders, policymakers, and international organizations to prioritize child nutrition and climate resilience. He emphasized that without urgent intervention, the future of millions of children, especially in developing countries, remains at risk.
“Nations can’t grow if their people can’t,” he concluded, highlighting the importance of ensuring that children receive adequate nutrition to grow, thrive, and contribute to their societies.
The 2024 Goalkeepers event, hosted by the Gates Foundation, continues to serve as a global platform for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of global health and food security. With influential voices like Dr. Mohammed amplifying the message, the hope is that actionable solutions will emerge from UNGA to address this pressing global crisis.
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