| "Much of the sickness and death
attributed to the major communicable diseases is in fact caused by malnutrition
which makes the body less able to withstand infections when they strike," said
Dr Hiroshi Nakajima, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
"At the same time," he added, "in developing countries today, malnutrition
is the cause of 174 million children under five years of age being{{U}}
(51) {{/U}}, and 230 million being stunted(阻碍)in their growth. Such{{U}}
(52) {{/U}}represent deprivation, suffering and wasted human
potential{{U}} (53) {{/U}}a scale that is unacceptable from every point
of view. Whether we think in{{U}} (54) {{/U}}of humanitarian concern,
common justice or development needs, they demand a{{U}} (55) {{/U}},
both from national governments and from the international
community." It is now{{U}} (56) {{/U}}that 6.6 million out of the estimated 12.2 million deaths{{U}} (57) {{/U}}among children under-five--or 54% of young child mortality in developing countries-is associated with malnutrition, In some{{U}} (58) {{/U}}, such as sub-Saha-ran Africa and south Asia, stagnation(停滞)of nutritional improvement{{U}} (59) {{/U}}with a rapid rise in population has resulted in an{{U}} (60) {{/U}}increase in the total number of malnourished children.{{U}} (61) {{/U}}, over two-thirds of the world's malnourished children live in Asia (especially south Asia), followed by Africa and Latin America. As Dr Nakajima noted, "The globalization of industry, trade, travel and communication has brought{{U}} (62) {{/U}}it unprecedented possibilities for mutual cooperation in{{U}} (63) {{/U}}hunger and malnutrition. At the same time, however, the acceptability of certain foods, and the cultural aspects of their production, distribution and preparation, are now recognized as{{U}} (64) {{/U}}in the promotion of good nutrition. Without the attention{{U}} (65) {{/U}}them, little progress can be made towards household food security, appropriate diets, the control of micronutrient(微量元素)deficiencies, the promotion of breast-feeding, and other strategies listed in the Plan of Action adopted in 1992 (at the International Conference on Nutrition in Rome)." |