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Hillary Clinton campaigns against child malnutrition
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday joined in launching an initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition in pregnant women and young children, which claims some 3.5 million deaths every year.
"Undernutrition is major problem for which we have basic, affordable solutions, such as vitamin and mineral supplements, fortified foods, and nutrition education," Clinton said at an event organized in New York by the Irish government, NGOs and private businesses.
The program, "1,000 days: Change a Life, Change the Future" targets pregnant women and children under age two.
"We also know enough about the science of nutrition to know these interventions have the biggest impact when they occur during the first 1,000 days of a child’s existence. That begins with pregnancy and continues through a child’s second birthday," Clinton said.
"Interventions after that second birthday make a difference, but often cannot undo the damage that was done because of the undernutrition during the first 1,000 days. So we can be very targeted with our investments to save and improve the greatest number of lives," she explained.
The program -- www.thousanddays.org -- has about 100 private and public partners focusing on positive steps that can be taken in those critical 1,000 days.
