Mexico grows when a child is well-nourished

		MEXICO (18 June 2012) —World Vision Mexico, Un Kilo de Ayuda and The Hunger Project Mexico recently came together to promote awareness about the importance of good nutrition for human development and economic growth in anticipation of the G20 summit in Mexico. They call for government, enterprises, media, academia and civil society to work together to create policies and programs to make Mexico without malnutrition a reality.
Luis del Rio, National Director at World Vision Mexico, joins Lorena Vazquez, of The Hunger Project Mexico, and Manuel Mendoza, of Un Kilo de Ayuda, in calling for an end to child malnutrition in Mexico.

Without a doubt, child malnutrition is a public health problem. Inadequate nutrition disproportionately affects vulnerable groups like children and women and perpetuates the cycle of generational poverty. For this reason, these nongovernmental organizations urge Mexican people and presidential candidates to recognize and address this public health problem.

Nutrition is the basis of physical, emotional and cognitive development. Investment in good nutrition reduces premature deaths for both mothers and children and it improves the growth of infants and children. It also leads to an estimated two or three percent growth in the economies of developing countries. On the other end of the spectrum, malnutrition presents considerable health risks. The rise of chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are related to the world’s growing rates of over-weight and obesity. These afflictions endanger life and are difficult to treat in places with limited resources and overburdened health systems.

Right now, the leaders of the world’s developed economies are gathered at the G20 meeting in Mexico to implement global action on economic and financial issues. One of the G20 priorities is developing global economic stability and, correspondingly, it is essential to pay attention to food security and its connection to nutrition as important aspects of individual and national development.

According to Lorena Vazquez, Executive Director of The Hunger Project Mexico, investment in the nutrition of mothers and children, especially in the first one thousand days of life, can result in:

• An increase of between 2 and 3 percent in a country’s Gross Internal Product (GIP)
• Well-nourished and self-sufficient children who are better equipped to study and learn
• Up to 46% more income over the course of an individual’s productive life
• Reduced diabetes, less hunger, and a break in the cycle of poverty
• More than 1 million lives saved every year around the world

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews