good morning everyone if all of us in this room were
if all of us in this room were
if all of us in this room were malnourished and we grew up we may not
malnourished and we grew up we may not
malnourished and we grew up we may not have been here some of us may not have
have been here some of us may not have
have been here some of us may not have survived the childhood and most others
survived the childhood and most others
survived the childhood and most others would have an intelligence that is lower
would have an intelligence that is lower
would have an intelligence that is lower than what is required to see us through
than what is required to see us through
than what is required to see us through the school and surely not to get into
the school and surely not to get into
the school and surely not to get into another university but we escaped and
another university but we escaped and
another university but we escaped and millions of children in this world but
millions of children in this world but
millions of children in this world but are not so fortunate when I was younger
are not so fortunate when I was younger
are not so fortunate when I was younger I was I was really family I wasn’t like
I was I was really family I wasn’t like
I was I was really family I wasn’t like what I am today and on seeing me I’m one
what I am today and on seeing me I’m one
what I am today and on seeing me I’m one of my earlier photographs that you see
of my earlier photographs that you see
of my earlier photographs that you see here somebody said you know you really
here somebody said you know you really
here somebody said you know you really look scrawny and famished did you grow
look scrawny and famished did you grow
look scrawny and famished did you grow up in Ethiopia and I said you know
up in Ethiopia and I said you know
up in Ethiopia and I said you know growing up in India would have been a
growing up in India would have been a
growing up in India would have been a more appropriate explanation because the
more appropriate explanation because the
more appropriate explanation because the malnutrition levels in India are much
malnutrition levels in India are much
malnutrition levels in India are much higher than that in Ethiopia of course
higher than that in Ethiopia of course
higher than that in Ethiopia of course children in Africa are malnourished very
children in Africa are malnourished very
children in Africa are malnourished very large number of children in Africa or
large number of children in Africa or
large number of children in Africa or malaria this is one of the better
malaria this is one of the better
malaria this is one of the better photographs but if you google you will
photographs but if you google you will
photographs but if you google you will see large number of starving children in
see large number of starving children in
see large number of starving children in Africa that’s pretty well known but what
Africa that’s pretty well known but what
Africa that’s pretty well known but what is not well known is that in India the
is not well known is that in India the
is not well known is that in India the numbers of children who are malnourished
numbers of children who are malnourished
numbers of children who are malnourished are much much higher the levels of
are much much higher the levels of
are much much higher the levels of malnutrition are almost twice that in
malnutrition are almost twice that in
malnutrition are almost twice that in Africa for example 15% of children in
Africa for example 15% of children in
Africa for example 15% of children in India wasted in the first three years of
India wasted in the first three years of
India wasted in the first three years of their life as compared to seven percent
their life as compared to seven percent
their life as compared to seven percent in Ethiopia or Nigeria now but why does
in Ethiopia or Nigeria now but why does
in Ethiopia or Nigeria now but why does this happen
this happen
this happen India is a one of the fastest growing
India is a one of the fastest growing
India is a one of the fastest growing economies in the world we are a food
economies in the world we are a food
economies in the world we are a food replete nation we have very very stable
replete nation we have very very stable
replete nation we have very very stable government’s and democracy that we are
government’s and democracy that we are
government’s and democracy that we are very proud of as opposed to that many
very proud of as opposed to that many
very proud of as opposed to that many countries in Africa have unstable
countries in Africa have unstable
countries in Africa have unstable governments struggling economies HIV has
governments struggling economies HIV has
governments struggling economies HIV has wiped off large populations there
wiped off large populations there
wiped off large populations there how does India pull off this dubious
how does India pull off this dubious
how does India pull off this dubious distinction still to have higher levels
distinction still to have higher levels
distinction still to have higher levels of children’s and the nutrition this is
of children’s and the nutrition this is
of children’s and the nutrition this is something that had bothered us for a
something that had bothered us for a
something that had bothered us for a long time and like other health care
long time and like other health care
long time and like other health care professionals earlier in life I went
professionals earlier in life I went
professionals earlier in life I went with the belief that it is largely a
with the belief that it is largely a
with the belief that it is largely a problem of ignorance of families right
problem of ignorance of families right
problem of ignorance of families right families do not know what to feed their
families do not know what to feed their
families do not know what to feed their children because in general the
children because in general the
children because in general the countries has enough food and once they
countries has enough food and once they
countries has enough food and once they know what they what the children need to
know what they what the children need to
know what they what the children need to be fed how to feed and how many times
be fed how to feed and how many times
be fed how to feed and how many times you feed etcetera
you feed etcetera
you feed etcetera problem will be solved and I was
problem will be solved and I was
problem will be solved and I was involved in large-scale programs that
involved in large-scale programs that
involved in large-scale programs that intended to do just that to inform
intended to do just that to inform
intended to do just that to inform families on what to feed how to feed and
families on what to feed how to feed and
families on what to feed how to feed and how to care for children didn’t really
how to care for children didn’t really
how to care for children didn’t really work last few years then we started our
work last few years then we started our
work last few years then we started our clinics and surgeons southern Rajasthan
clinics and surgeons southern Rajasthan
clinics and surgeons southern Rajasthan we were really frustrated by this whole
we were really frustrated by this whole
we were really frustrated by this whole nutrition education approach there
nutrition education approach there
nutrition education approach there wasn’t enough nutritious food in the
wasn’t enough nutritious food in the
wasn’t enough nutritious food in the households mothers just didn’t have
households mothers just didn’t have
households mothers just didn’t have enough time to take care of the children
enough time to take care of the children
enough time to take care of the children with all the back-breaking tasks that
with all the back-breaking tasks that
with all the back-breaking tasks that they were doing and as a result you
they were doing and as a result you
they were doing and as a result you could see that the mothers and children
could see that the mothers and children
could see that the mothers and children but also Malorie we saw a large number
but also Malorie we saw a large number
but also Malorie we saw a large number of women who came to a clinics but
of women who came to a clinics but
of women who came to a clinics but themselves malnourished and that’s when
themselves malnourished and that’s when
themselves malnourished and that’s when we started this exploration that I’m
we started this exploration that I’m
we started this exploration that I’m going to share with you a bit today in
going to share with you a bit today in
going to share with you a bit today in the year of 2006 in the last decade
the year of 2006 in the last decade
the year of 2006 in the last decade World Health Organization assessed
World Health Organization assessed
World Health Organization assessed growth patterns of almost 8500 children
growth patterns of almost 8500 children
growth patterns of almost 8500 children across six cities in five continents of
across six cities in five continents of
across six cities in five continents of the world they measured the growth and
the world they measured the growth and
the world they measured the growth and weights of children across the first
weights of children across the first
weights of children across the first three years and what they found this is
three years and what they found this is
three years and what they found this is what they found that the child whether
what they found that the child whether
what they found that the child whether is born in Accra in Ghana or city of
is born in Accra in Ghana or city of
is born in Accra in Ghana or city of Davis in USA or Oslo in Norway or
Davis in USA or Oslo in Norway or
Davis in USA or Oslo in Norway or muscadine Oman the growth patterns were
muscadine Oman the growth patterns were
muscadine Oman the growth patterns were similar absolutely similar which means
similar absolutely similar which means
similar absolutely similar which means that there is absolutely no difference
that there is absolutely no difference
that there is absolutely no difference between the growth potential that
between the growth potential that
between the growth potential that children have children everywhere in the
children have children everywhere in the
children have children everywhere in the world have similar growth potential
world have similar growth potential
world have similar growth potential provided certain conditions are met and
provided certain conditions are met and
provided certain conditions are met and what are those conditions one needs to
what are those conditions one needs to
what are those conditions one needs to better understand it’s definitely not
better understand it’s definitely not
better understand it’s definitely not the genes that is restricting Indian
the genes that is restricting Indian
the genes that is restricting Indian children to remain shorter and thinner
so can India produce a Magic Johnson you
so can India produce a Magic Johnson you know who this guy is
know who this guy is
know who this guy is Satnam Singh the first NBA player who is
Satnam Singh the first NBA player who is
Satnam Singh the first NBA player who is in fact a few inches taller than Magic
in fact a few inches taller than Magic
in fact a few inches taller than Magic Johnson so yes
Johnson so yes
Johnson so yes India can have people who grow as well
India can have people who grow as well
India can have people who grow as well who are taller who are stronger than
who are taller who are stronger than
who are taller who are stronger than children anywhere else in the world then
children anywhere else in the world then
children anywhere else in the world then what is it that explains the differences
what is it that explains the differences
what is it that explains the differences the first thing that comes to the mind
the first thing that comes to the mind
the first thing that comes to the mind is
is
is as you know the mothers who are better
as you know the mothers who are better
as you know the mothers who are better nourished themselves are likely to
nourished themselves are likely to
nourished themselves are likely to produce better nourished babies and
produce better nourished babies and
produce better nourished babies and poorly nourished mothers are likely to
poorly nourished mothers are likely to
poorly nourished mothers are likely to give birth to pool in a rich babies
give birth to pool in a rich babies
give birth to pool in a rich babies so some facts rural Indian women in
so some facts rural Indian women in
so some facts rural Indian women in general do eat much less than what is
general do eat much less than what is
general do eat much less than what is required to stay nourished and healthy
required to stay nourished and healthy
required to stay nourished and healthy they eat on an average 550 calories
they eat on an average 550 calories
they eat on an average 550 calories lower and 13 grams lesser protein is it
lower and 13 grams lesser protein is it
lower and 13 grams lesser protein is it different in sub-saharan Africa on the
different in sub-saharan Africa on the
different in sub-saharan Africa on the surface it looks similar the amount of
surface it looks similar the amount of
surface it looks similar the amount of calories that they ingest is largely
calories that they ingest is largely
calories that they ingest is largely similar but whether women are in
similar but whether women are in
similar but whether women are in sub-saharan Africa or in India but when
sub-saharan Africa or in India but when
sub-saharan Africa or in India but when it comes to protein there is a huge
it comes to protein there is a huge
it comes to protein there is a huge difference sub-saharan African women
difference sub-saharan African women
difference sub-saharan African women tend to eat much larger amounts of
tend to eat much larger amounts of
tend to eat much larger amounts of protein and that’s largely because of
protein and that’s largely because of
protein and that’s largely because of her much higher consumption of meat and
her much higher consumption of meat and
her much higher consumption of meat and fish which not only provides better
fish which not only provides better
fish which not only provides better quality protein but also does so at a
quality protein but also does so at a
quality protein but also does so at a much lower cost and that makes a huge
much lower cost and that makes a huge
much lower cost and that makes a huge difference and that’s what results in
difference and that’s what results in
difference and that’s what results in African women being almost 6 centimeters
African women being almost 6 centimeters
African women being almost 6 centimeters taller than their Indian sisters and
taller than their Indian sisters and
taller than their Indian sisters and almost 2 points higher in their body
almost 2 points higher in their body
almost 2 points higher in their body mass index what does this really
mass index what does this really
mass index what does this really translate into it translates into almost
translate into it translates into almost
translate into it translates into almost 30 percent of Indian children almost one
30 percent of Indian children almost one
30 percent of Indian children almost one in every three children were born in
in every three children were born in
in every three children were born in India are born undernourished at Birth
India are born undernourished at Birth
India are born undernourished at Birth has compared to almost 14 percent in
has compared to almost 14 percent in
has compared to almost 14 percent in Africa so that’s what really explains
Africa so that’s what really explains
Africa so that’s what really explains the difference it’s really a bad start
the difference it’s really a bad start
the difference it’s really a bad start in life that accounts for these
in life that accounts for these
in life that accounts for these differences in undernutrition levels but
differences in undernutrition levels but
differences in undernutrition levels but hold on it’s not the only thing because
hold on it’s not the only thing because
hold on it’s not the only thing because a large number of children also become
a large number of children also become
a large number of children also become malnourished after they are born in the
malnourished after they are born in the
malnourished after they are born in the first few years of life it is the care
first few years of life it is the care
first few years of life it is the care that makes a use difference and the care
that makes a use difference and the care
that makes a use difference and the care depends quite a bit on the caregiver
depends quite a bit on the caregiver
depends quite a bit on the caregiver mother in most cases and it’s the
mother in most cases and it’s the
mother in most cases and it’s the mother’s own ability to care for their
mother’s own ability to care for their
mother’s own ability to care for their children and for themselves that makes a
children and for themselves that makes a
children and for themselves that makes a huge difference in the first few years
huge difference in the first few years
huge difference in the first few years of life are Indian women less empowered
of life are Indian women less empowered
of life are Indian women less empowered than African women to take care of
than African women to take care of
than African women to take care of themselves and their children
themselves and their children
themselves and their children it seems so three very eminent gentlemen
it seems so three very eminent gentlemen
it seems so three very eminent gentlemen dr. ramalinga swamy doctor urban johnson
dr. ramalinga swamy doctor urban johnson
dr. ramalinga swamy doctor urban johnson and dr. john roading representing
and dr. john roading representing
and dr. john roading representing different continents but combined by
different continents but combined by
different continents but combined by their interest in children and their
their interest in children and their
their interest in children and their experience of having worked in
experience of having worked in
experience of having worked in India and Africa try to answer this
India and Africa try to answer this
India and Africa try to answer this question in the last decade and what did
question in the last decade and what did
question in the last decade and what did they conclude they said that women in
they conclude they said that women in
they conclude they said that women in sub-saharan Africa in general enjoy much
sub-saharan Africa in general enjoy much
sub-saharan Africa in general enjoy much greater opportunity and freedom than
greater opportunity and freedom than
greater opportunity and freedom than women in South Asia they said that
women in South Asia they said that
women in South Asia they said that subordinated millions of women in South
subordinated millions of women in South
subordinated millions of women in South Asia neither have the knowledge not the
Asia neither have the knowledge not the
Asia neither have the knowledge not the freedom nor means to take care of
freedom nor means to take care of
freedom nor means to take care of themselves and to act in the best
themselves and to act in the best
themselves and to act in the best self-interest of themselves and their
self-interest of themselves and their
self-interest of themselves and their children since then there has been much
children since then there has been much
children since then there has been much more empirical evidence on this issue
more empirical evidence on this issue
more empirical evidence on this issue world economic forum analysis repeatedly
world economic forum analysis repeatedly
world economic forum analysis repeatedly year after year puts Indian women much
year after year puts Indian women much
year after year puts Indian women much lower than sub-saharan on equality is an
lower than sub-saharan on equality is an
lower than sub-saharan on equality is an opportunity to education and for
opportunity to education and for
opportunity to education and for opportunities to work and earn so to sum
opportunities to work and earn so to sum
opportunities to work and earn so to sum up children everywhere in the world have
up children everywhere in the world have
up children everywhere in the world have similar opportunities to grow they have
similar opportunities to grow they have
similar opportunities to grow they have similar potential but what really
similar potential but what really
similar potential but what really matters is whether their mothers are
matters is whether their mothers are
matters is whether their mothers are equally well nourished do they receive a
equally well nourished do they receive a
equally well nourished do they receive a nurturing and caring environment in the
nurturing and caring environment in the
nurturing and caring environment in the first few years of life and their own
first few years of life and their own
first few years of life and their own ability to go out in the world and to
ability to go out in the world and to
ability to go out in the world and to work earn and to get educated that’s
work earn and to get educated that’s
work earn and to get educated that’s what really makes the difference so at
what really makes the difference so at
what really makes the difference so at this stage people often ask that what is
this stage people often ask that what is
this stage people often ask that what is it that we can do and to you as young
it that we can do and to you as young
it that we can do and to you as young students I would say that just go out in
students I would say that just go out in
students I would say that just go out in the world go stop by at the nearest
the world go stop by at the nearest
the world go stop by at the nearest construction site look at the child of a
construction site look at the child of a
construction site look at the child of a woman laborer who is there and check
woman laborer who is there and check
woman laborer who is there and check what has he eaten who cares for her when
what has he eaten who cares for her when
what has he eaten who cares for her when the mother is working and constructing
the mother is working and constructing
the mother is working and constructing homes what does the mother herself eaten
homes what does the mother herself eaten
homes what does the mother herself eaten in the past 24 hours go to a village if
in the past 24 hours go to a village if
in the past 24 hours go to a village if you have time and see what care does the
you have time and see what care does the
you have time and see what care does the child receive them when the mother is
child receive them when the mother is
child receive them when the mother is out collecting firewood go also see
out collecting firewood go also see
out collecting firewood go also see places where there is a nurturing
places where there is a nurturing
places where there is a nurturing environment and children are well cared
environment and children are well cared
environment and children are well cared for why is it that all disadvantaged
for why is it that all disadvantaged
for why is it that all disadvantaged children who require such care are not
children who require such care are not
children who require such care are not in such places and then if somebody
in such places and then if somebody
in such places and then if somebody tells you that undernutrition can be
tells you that undernutrition can be
tells you that undernutrition can be treated by a pill or a magic bullet
treated by a pill or a magic bullet
treated by a pill or a magic bullet tell them that you know better and if
tell them that you know better and if
tell them that you know better and if somebody says that economy can grow when
somebody says that economy can grow when
somebody says that economy can grow when half of Indian children and one-third of
half of Indian children and one-third of
half of Indian children and one-third of adults are malnourished tell them that
adults are malnourished tell them that
adults are malnourished tell them that you know better go out in the world go
you know better go out in the world go
you know better go out in the world go discover it for yourself and find your
discover it for yourself and find your
discover it for yourself and find your own moorings good luck
”
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