Mid day Meals for Disabled Children

BALAJOTHI CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED

PROJECT REPORT

PROJECT TITLE : MID DAY MEALS TO DISABLED CHILDREN (#16999)

REPORT DUE DATE : NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Malnutrition in children is common globally and results in both short and long term irreversible negative health outcomes including stunted growth which may also be linked to cognitive development deficits, underweight and wasting (pictures attached). Malnutrition is a major contributor to the total global disease burden. More than one third of child deaths worldwide are attributed to malnutrition. Poverty is a central cause of malnutrition and consequent related disabilities.

The fight against persistent underweight, stunting and wasting among children in developing countries is based on appropriate maternal, infant and young child feeding practices including micronutrient deficiencies prevention and control. However, wasted children are those at immediate risk of dying and will need timely detection and correct management for their survival.

More than half of all child deaths are associated with malnutrition, which weakens the body's resistance to illness. Poor diet, frequent illness, and inadequate or inattentive care of young children lead to malnutrition. If a woman is malnourished during pregnancy, or if her child is malnourished during the first two years of life, the child's physical and mental growth and development may be slowed. This cannot be made up when the child is older – it will affect the child for the rest of his or her life. Children have the right to a caring, protective environment and to nutritious food and basic health care to protect them from illness and promote growth and development.

Key Facts - WHO: Infant and Young Child Feeding Fact Sheet - updated January 2016

• Every infant and child has the right to good nutrition according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Undernutrition is associated with 45% of child deaths.
• Globally in 2013, 161.5 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted  and 50.8 million were estimated to have low weight-for-height.
• Few children receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods; in many countries less than a fourth of infants 6–23 months of age meet the criteria of dietary diversity and feeding frequency that are appropriate for their age.

Balajothi is trying in its own small way to overcome this deficiency by providing nutritious mid-day meals to the special children who attend the school. These children, who were initially ill fed or poorly fed before joining Balajothi are now healthy and growing well. They are healthy and less prone to sickness.

Balajothi thanks all donors for being instrumental in providing nutritious and balanced food to our special children every day.  We along with our children remember all our donors in our prayers before the meal.

Given below is the break-up of the amount spent on mid-day meals served to our special children for the three months at Balajothi :

·         July 2016 – Rs.9600.00

·         August 2016 – Rs.8,750.00

·         September 2016 – Rs.9,600.00.

                       End of Report

 Regards

Balaraj