Redefining Child Nutrition: UNICEF’s Impact with RUTF
The world continues to grapple with child malnutrition with 149 million children losing their childhood to this deadly disease. In cases where malnutrition is left untreated, fatality is guaranteed. 45% of deaths among children under five are linked to undernutrition. This statistic is a wake-up call for countries to look into solutions to eradicate malnutrition. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund ( UNICEF ), established in the aftermath of World War II to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in war-torn Europe has time and again advocated for effective measures to fight child malnutrition. In fact, as one of the most respected world organizations, UNICEF is now a global force for child welfare, education, and healthcare. Over the years, UNICEF has taken many steps to fight the sturdy grip of malnutrition but the most significant interventions in recent years have been using Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). RUTF has been recognized a