Malnutrition

"Much of thesickness and death attributed to the major communicable diseases is in factcaused by malnutrition which makes the body less able to withstand infectionswhen

theystrike",said Dr.Hiroshi Na-kajima,Director-General of the World HealthOrganization(WHO),in his statement on the first day of the

World Food Summitorganized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome,Italy,from1 3 to 17 November,1996.

"At the sametime,"he added,"in developing countries today,malnutrition is thecause of 174 million children under five years of age being underweight,and 230million being

stunted in theirgrowth.Such figures represent deprivation, suffering and wasted human potentialon a scale that is unacceptable from every point of view.Whether we think in

terms ofhumanitarian concern,common justice or development needs, they demand aresponse,both from national governments and from international community."

At the end ofJanuary 1996,98 countries had national plans of action for nutrition and 41countries had one under preparation,in keeping with their commitments made atthe

InternationalConference on Nutrition in Romein December 1992.The global situation,however,remains grim.Over 800 millionpeople around the world still cannot meet

basic needs forenergy and protein,more than 2 ,000 million people lack essentialmicronutrients,and hundreds of millions suffer from diseases caused by unsafefood and

unbalanced diets.

In sheernumbers,iron is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency.Mainly women ofreproduction' age and children under five are affected by iron deficiency with

prevalence hoveringaround 50% in developing countries.Among various regions in the world,it is South Asia which is hit hardest with prevalence reaching80% in some

countries.Tn infantsand young children even mild anemia is associated with impaired intellectual aswell as physical development.In older children and adults iron deficiency

reduces workcapacity and output.

It also leads toincreased accidents at work.

While there is nosingle remedy,a combination of several preventive approaches is believed towork best.Dietary improvement includes consumption of iron-and vitamin C-

rich foods and foodsof animal origin, and avoiding drinking tea or coffee with or soon aftermeals.Iron supplementation of foods,particularly of staple cereals,is practicedin a

growing number ofcountries.Iron supplementation is the most common approach,particularly forpregnant women.How many countrieshave made plans of action for nutrition?

A.98.

B.41.

C.139.

D.57.