Malnutrition is often called an "invisible" emergency because, much like an iceberg, its deadly menace lies mostly hidden from view. Each year, it is implicated in more than half of the 11 million deaths of children younger than 5 years old in developing countries.

However, contrary to popular belief, only a fraction of these children die from starvation in catastrophes such as famine or war. In the majority of cases, malnutrition is far more subtle: It cripples children's growth, renders them susceptible to disease, dulls their intellects, diminishes their motivation, and saps their productivity.

Adequate nutrition is a right for all Maldivians, which both the Government and UNICEF endorse, along with the first global Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. However, data in the first Vulnerability and Poverty Assessment (VPA) in 1998 indicated that Maldives faced a nutritional situation more acute than many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The average diet in many Maldivian households does not include fruit and vegetables, as a result of which the required doses of vitamins and minerals are not available. In addition, increased consumerism, along with introduction and aggressive advertising of  "junk" foods, inadequate access to health care and poor infant feeding, has severely compounded the nutritional challenges of the population.

This has led to alarmingly high rates of malnutrition, especially among children. Several surveys have demonstrated clearly that child malnutrition is a serious problem in Maldives; in a 2000 survey, almost 1 in 3 children younger than age 5 were found to be undernourished and 1 in 4 was stunted. The VPA also found more girls than boys were stunted and wasted.

At the same time, a nutritional study in 2000 indicated that more than half of all of pregnant Maldivian women and nearly half of non-pregnant women suffered from anaemia, a deficiency that can be caused by lack of iron-rich foods.

Only recently has extensive work been undertaken for the promotion of good nutrition in Maldives. High on the agenda of UNICEF, a process was endorsed by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom himself when he launched the National Nutrition Strategic Plan in August.

"Nutritious food such as fruits and vegetables should be made available to all at reasonable prices," the President declared during the launch. He said fresh foods in daily diets were far more beneficial than preserved foods, particularly in improving the intelligence and alertness of children. The President also identified campaigns to increase awareness on exclusive breastfeeding of infants and increasing the intake of water as practical steps to promote good nutrition for all Maldivians. 

Likewise, UNICEF has been committed to increasing support to change unhealthy food habits, making nutritious food accessible to the entire population, promoting use of locally available nutritious foods, providing information on healthy eating, and advocating for reducing the disparities between girls' and boys' nutritional intake. UNICEF is chairing the newly constituted United Nations Nutrition Task Force, which brings together all United Nations Agencies working in Maldives to focus on nutrition issues.

"UNICEF has worked since its beginning in Maldives a quarter of a century ago to help ensure children's rights, including the right to good nutrition," says Tom Bergmann-Harris, UNICEF Assistant Resident Representative in Male'. "Good nutrition is an essential element for children to grow and thrive as individuals.

"Exclusive breastfeeding and good dietary habits," he says, "give every child the best start in life."