Time to address malnutrition

THE call for more nutritionists and dieticians to help address Papua New Guinea’s nationwide malnutrition issues is something that should not be pushed away from being discussed.
Malnutrition statistics in PNG is alarming according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO).
UNFAO noted that in 2015, the prevalence rate of stunting in children under the age of five was about 50 per cent, while wasting was 14 per cent.
Recent reports observed in 2018 stated that the average stunting prevalence increased to 55 per cent.
Stunting is when a child has a low height for their age, usually due to malnutrition, repeated infections, and/or poor social stimulation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises children who are stunted as those whose height is lower than average for their age and at least two standard deviations below the WHO’s child growth standards median.
It’s important to note that stunting is different from wasting.
If stunting is a low height for a child’s weight, wasting is low weight for a child’s height.
So, how does a dietician and nutritionist fit into the equation.
A nutritionist is a person who advises others on matters of food and nutrition and their impacts on health.
The role of a nutritionist is to help prevent disease and promote good health by encouraging an active lifestyle combined with healthy eating habits.
A dietitian is an expert in providing nutrition advise for treatment of a range of diseases and health conditions.
The advice and information dietitians provide is tailored to their patient’s personal needs and challenges, including taste, food skills and accessibility.
Dietitians typically work in hospitals and usually see specific patients where a nutritional assessment and intervention has been requested by a doctor or nurse.
If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease, dietitians can help you to safely adapt a heart-healthy diet that suits you, your tastes and your lifestyle.
They are a vital member of our healthcare team in managing risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
As we get older, our taste buds change, we may need more assistance with meal preparation/eating and our usual habits around food may alter.
Dietitians can discuss suitable dietary strategies for those with dementia and those who require special diets for their health in older age.
Nutrition before and during pregnancy is vital in your baby’s development.
Dietitians can advise on how to optimise your diet to help keep you and your baby healthy.
Most times while in hospital, patients admitted often miss multiple meals during their hospital stays due to being kept on “nothing by mouth” instructions for medical tests and procedures, or feeling unwell with concurrent anorexia.
Early nutrition intervention is key to curtailing malnutrition.
The need to have training institutions in the country specifically for nutrition specialists was highlighted in a recent food systems dialogue in Lae.
Sadly though, the curriculum for undergraduate nutrition training proposed for the University of PNG and Divine Word University has been put aside due to lack of infrastructure.
When it comes to the prevention and prevention of some chronic diseases, dietary counselling by a dietitians is more effective than usual care or minimal dietary advise.
This issue can not be ignored.
It must be addressed.
“You are what you eat” is the notion that to be fit and healthy, you need to eat good food.