Child nutrition in Mexico: a duty to protect
Introduction
Mexico is a country that has great wealth, with kind people, and with a lot of magic, but that does not mean that it does not have negative aspects and childhood is not saved from that.
Being an infant in Mexico can be in 2 states: or in a well -accompanied situation or in a state of poverty, inequality and prohibition of their rights.
Childhood in Mexico is going through a great crisis, since talking about this is to remember moments of pain, abandonment, poverty, injustice and humiliation.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in Mexico the child and adolescent population lacks adequate food, which experienced an increase of 2.5% between 2008 and 2012.
Within the framework of Children’s Day, the agency announced the information in order to raise awareness about this lack, which represents the greatest vulnerability facing the child and adolescent population regarding food and nutrition. The above leads to implement actions that face nutritional limitations in the early stages of life, whose consequences are usually irreversible and tend to reduce the cognitive, motor and emotional development of those who suffer from those who suffer from them.
Inegi points out that three out of 10 girls and boys live in homes where there is some type of moderate or severe restriction to access the necessary food for a healthy and active life.
Alarming figures show that in 2012, 66.5% of the child population in extreme poverty has a moderate or severe level of food insecurity, while in the population in moderate poverty the percentage is reduced by half (33.7%).
These data show that within the population in poverty there are important inconsistencies in access to food.
According to the 2010-2050 population projections of the National Population Council (CONAPO), 40 resided in the country.2 million children between 0 and 17 years in mid -2014, which in relative terms represented 33.6% of the total population estimated last year.
The institution explained that in the first years of life the child’s survival is essential, which means that reaching five years of age represents a substantial achievement, mainly for those minors who develop in a context of poverty, malnutrition and an environment inadequate for your health.
After this age, attend school and receive quality education becomes imperative for a good development of their skills and to expand their opportunities for improving quality of life.
In spite of the advances in terms of health and reduction of mortality in children, diseases with high infant death rates around the world still prevail, essentially in the population that is around 4 years of age. These conditions are usually acute respiratory infections (Iras) and acute diarrheal diseases (EDAS), which in Mexico represent the first and second cause of disease for that population group respectively.
Both pathologies are linked to other factors such as access to health services, socio -environmental conditions and health conditions, which include low birth weight and malnutrition, problems that, in developing countries, such as ours, continue to emerge.
Mortality due to these diseases depends largely on the availability of timely treatment, as well as the General State of Health prior to them being manifested.
Although the coverage of health services and social security services has improved, it should be noted that there are still obstacles to overcome in order to guarantee the child population compliance with these social rights.
INEGI observed that, in 2012, almost 20% of girls and boys, equivalent to approximately eight million people, did not have access to health services by some public or private institution. In addition, three out of five people from 0 to 17 years old did not have any type of access to social security, meaning that 25.4 million people in this age group lacked social protection mechanisms.
The agency said that, although the introduction of popular insurance and medical insurance for a new generation have increased health coverage, the interventions of these programs do not contemplate all the benefits provided for in Social Security, including the inability with salary enjoyment In case of accident or disease of the parents of children under 18 years.
According to results of the 2013 Child Labor Module of the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE), 8.6% of children aged 5 to 17 are part of the economically active population. Of these, most work for a relative; Two out of 10 do it because their home needs their work; 8.7% because your home requires an economic contribution, and 23.3% to solve their studies.
As for salaries, the situation is shameful: 45.9% do not receive income or their income is not monetary; Of those who receive income, 28.4% receive up to a minimum wage, more than a third (17.3%) receives more than one and up to two minimum wages, and only 1.2% receive more than three minimum wages. The lucky ones receive less than 200 pesos per day.
The INEGI emphasizes in its report that child labor constitutes a violation of the rights of girls and boys, since it prevents healthy growth and impossible its school development.
UNICEF declares that child labor is an obstacle to social and economic development in any country by undermining the powers of its future workforce, favoring the intergenerational transmission of poverty, while perpetuating existing inequalities, of which Mexico does not It is exempt.
conclusion
I think are alarming figures that we have in Mexico and that it is disappointing to have so many resources and opportunities in our country and that nothing is done. Even the things that surround us and do not pay attention are to disappoint us as a society. It is not possible that our media together with our resources are used for marquetin and sales, disguising reality and becoming a cold society, oblivious to needs and good information to help and support.
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