Hunger still prevalent globally – WFP

MANILA, Philippines - Hunger is still prevalent around the world even as some indicators show a decline in hunger in developing countries, latest data from the World Food Program showed.

Citing recent data on hunger, the WFP said in a statement yesterday that one in eight persons goes to bed hungry and that hunger remains one of the world’s top 10 health risks today.

“Approximately 870 million people in the world do not eat enough to be healthy. That means that one of every eight people goes to bed hungry each night,” the WFP said.

The number of those living with chronic hunger has declined by 130 million people over the past 20 years, the WFP said.

In developing countries including the Philippines, the prevalence of undernourishment has fallen to 14.9 percent from 23.2 percent between 1990 to 2010.

However, hunger remains the number one on the list of the world’s top 10 health risks.

“It kills more people every year than AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis combined,” said the WFP.

Furthermore, in developing countries a third of all deaths in children under the age of five are linked to undernutrition.

As such, the WFP said that in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life – from pregnancy through age two – parents must tackle undernutrition.

“A proper diet in this period can protect children from the metal and physical stunting that can result from malnutrition,” the WFP said.