More investment needed to tackle malnutrition, joint report argues

Greater levels of investment need to be channelled towards providing vitamins and minerals to children and families in the developing world, a new report has claimed.

According to the seven global development agencies which compiled the new report, entitled 'Investing in the Future: A united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies', the global economic downturn has exacerbated the problem of malnutrition among the world's most vulnerable people, with millions now falling ill as a result of a lack of vitamin A, folic acid or zinc.

Given that malnutrition can lead to otherwise-preventable conditions such as blindness, or even death, the report argues that providing vitamins and minerals either through supplementation or food fortification "is a proven solution that costs just a few cents to save lives and help children grow healthy and strong".

Indeed, the study cites recent research which determined that, for every one dollar spent on vitamin A and zinc supplementation programmes in the developing world, $17 is saved in the long-run.

The report was released at this week's 2009 Micronutrient Forum in Beijing, with the WHO, UNICEF and The World Bank among its authors.

At the same time, the UN has warned that around half of the population in Somalia are suffering from malnutrition as a result of the worst flooding seen in more than ten years.

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