Malnutrition and poverty alleviation

The aim of the present paper is to understand the relationship between malnutrition and poverty, and how to generate ideas and concepts for developing studies leading to policy and programme implementation in the context of establishing collaborating networks among South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMED) centres. Malnutrition is found at all stages of life, from the fetus to older people, in what is considered to be `nutrition throughout the life cycle'. Low birthweight could become an important indicator of fetal/intrauterine nutrition. The consequences of being born undernourished extend into adulthood. Stunting is an indicator for poverty, it demonstrates early poor nutrition. Malnourished children face terrifying long-term results when they grow to adults, deprived of their full mental and intellectual capacity. The way to break the poverty cycle is to focus on children. Seventy per cent of the world's poor are women, which is considered as a feminization of poverty. Women play an important role in giving birth to the next generation, in food security, and as caregivers for the family. It is therefore important to increase the physical, mental, and intellectual wellbeing of every woman as a good investment for the well-being of future society and a human right. However, the gender issues are rarely openly acknowledged in national antipoverty strategies. Adequate nutrition, healthy ageing, and the ability to function independently are thus essential components of a good quality of life. Food security refers to access at all times to sufficient, nutritionally adequate, and safe food. It is important for healthy and peaceful development. Nutrition policy must be an integral part of health policy, from the national to the grass-roots level. The strategy is to focus government, NGOs and community activities on the reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in developing countries; determine who the poor people are, where they live, why they are poor and how our research could contribute and reduce both poverty and malnutrition.