The State of the World's Children 1998

The 1998 "State of the World's Children" report is about the silent emergency of malnutrition. Arising from the combined onslaught of poverty and preventable diseases, it takes an enormous toll on nearly 200 million children under-five every single day, most of them in the developing world. A child's mental and physical development - and even survival - are at risk. In the long-term, malnutrition has detrimental effects on children, families and ultimately, the social and economic development of nations. In this report, UNICEF looks at the three factors that determine whether a child will thrive and develop, particularly during the first three years of life: access to food; access to basic health services; and caring practices. It explores some of the low-cost measures that can be taken to improve the quality of life of children and their communities. The report argues that efforts to combat malnutrition must include improvements in women's education and status; access to health care; and safe water and sanitation. It also puts forward a plan of action to alleviate some of the effects of childhood malnutrition.