Have you ever heard of scaling up nutrition? Scaling up nutrition is a movement carried out by 57 countries in the world with the aim of eliminating various types of malnutrition, based on the principle that all people deserve good food and good nutrition. This movement is a joint movement of government, community institutions, United Nations, entrepreneurs, scientists, and various layers of society.
The focus of the scaling up nutrition movement is meeting the needs of the first 1000 days of life in order to reduce the number of malnutrition. At present, one in three children is malnourished. The impact of malnutrition that occurs in children will not only last during childhood but will continue to impact to adulthood. One of the effects of malnutrition that will continue to be carried by the child until the child becomes an adult is stunting or short. Stunting occurs when children are shorter than the average height of their age. Not only has an impact on the physical, stunting children are usually also associated with intelligence that is also lower when compared with their friends.
Why is reducing the number of malnutrition so important?
Reducing malnutrition can have a positive effect in various aspects. Malnourished children will tend to become mothers who are also malnourished and then give birth to malnourished children. This cycle will continue to occur as long as improvements in nutrition and health have not been carried out. Furthermore, malnourished children tend to get sick more easily and experience health problems in the future such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Not only is it beneficial in terms of health, some economists take into account the effects that will be caused if malnutrition in children is successfully eliminated, namely:
- Reducing child mortality is more than one third of the number of children who die per year.
- Increase revenue by 5-50%.
- Children who have good nutrition are 33% more likely not to experience poverty when compared to poorly nourished children
Some important aspects that are also the target of scaling up nutrition are driving exclusive breastfeeding and complementary foods that are good and correct, food fortification, supplementation of micronutrients such as iron, vitamins and minerals, and effective care for those who suffer from malnutrition and poor nutrition.
Why do we have to pay attention to the first 1000 days of a child's life?
One of the movements promoted by scaling up nutrition is fulfilling the needs of children during the first 1000 days of life. The first 1000 days of life are also referred to as the window of opportunity. Why does it have to be 1000 days? Because for 1000 days it was believed that children were in their golden age. Fulfillment of good nutrition during the first 1000 days of life will make a child's ability to grow and learn better.
The first 1000 days of life are calculated starting from the first day of conception and then embryos are formed until the child is 2 years old. Nutritional adequacy during pregnancy until the first years of a child's life plays a role in shaping brain function to help strengthen the immune system. It was also said that in the first 1000 days of life, it was determined how the future of the child would be
The results of the examination of the intelligence development score of children at 22 months can be used as an accurate indicator to predict how the child's academic abilities at the age of 26 years. In addition, when the baby is born, only 25% of the brain is developed. However, when he reached the age of 3 years this brain development has increased by 80%. The rapid growth of children during the first 1000 days of life must be supported by the fulfillment of proper nutrition.
What you can do to maximize the first 1000 days of life
During pregnancy
- To prevent child growth disorders, fulfill your nutritional needs since becoming pregnant. For example, during the first trimester of pregnancy, pregnant women need an additional calorie of around 180 kcal, 20 grams of added protein, 6 grams of fat, and 25 grams of carbohydrates. In the second and third trimesters you need an additional 300 kcal of calories, an additional protein of up to 20 grams, 10 grams of fat, and 40 grams of carbohydrates.
- Consuming blood tablets at least 90 tablets during pregnancy. Anemia in pregnant women is more dangerous than ordinary anemia because it can cause premature babies and other complications during childbirth.
- Routine check-up with the obstetrician or midwife so that it can be treated immediately if a pregnancy problem is detected.
When a baby is born until 6 months old
- Mothers are advised to carry out a birthing process in a midwife or a trained doctor who already knows the birth procedure and how to deal with complications that might arise during the birth process.
- Immediately after birth it is recommended to carry out an Early Breastfeeding Initiation.