"In the next 12 seconds, another hungry child will die" (World Vision.)
62 million people in Latin America live in extreme poverty and are struggling to provide food
Hunger affects the many regions of South America with individuals earning the minimum of $1 a day for all the hard work they do. People are poor and go hungry in various locations such as in the US, but the South American poverty rate is 70% versus the 14% of the USA (Francis).
Hunger affects the many regions of South America with individuals earning the minimum of $1 a day for all the hard work they do. People are poor and go hungry in various locations such as in the US, but the South American poverty rate is 70% versus the 14% of the USA (Francis).
Reasons of hunger
The reasons of hunger is the lack of money to buy and supply. Recent droughts have caused the South American agriculture to stagnate, thus, no money and no food. Other reasons include unfair distribution of money to employers. Government officials in countries such as Peru and Brazil have cut back the pay of thousands of employees giving themselves a substantial raise. "South America is infamous for huge income gaps between the tiny elite and masses of people earning an estimated $150 per month", whereas the typical monthly salary for a legislator is $15,000 to $20,000 (Francis). So although they work, citizens cannot survive on $45 a month, as does Silvia, a citizen of Buenos Aires, Argentina. "My children cry themselves to sleep at night and wake up hungry asking for their milk" a simply commodity that Silvia and her husband cannot provide with their monthly income (Munoz).
Diseases resulting from Hunger
Hunger is the result of the lacck of nutrients both macro and mircro; prolonged hunger leads to Chronic Malnutrition
There are two types of Severe Acute Malnutrition: Marasmus and Kwashiorkor
Marasmus-the appearance of a an elderly person with a skeletal figure
Kwashiorkor-swollen parts of body causing cramping and severe pain
One way nutritionists can tell if a child has Severe Acute Malnutrition is by measuring their middle-upper arm circumference, a technique known as the MUAC. If the circumference is less than 12 cm then it is a tell-tale sign of prolonged hunger.
Both severe diseases, caused by prolonged hunger, leave irreversible side effects, to both adults and children, to their internal and external parts of the body: internal organ deficiency, swollen remains, height disorders, etc.
There are two types of Severe Acute Malnutrition: Marasmus and Kwashiorkor
Marasmus-the appearance of a an elderly person with a skeletal figure
Kwashiorkor-swollen parts of body causing cramping and severe pain
One way nutritionists can tell if a child has Severe Acute Malnutrition is by measuring their middle-upper arm circumference, a technique known as the MUAC. If the circumference is less than 12 cm then it is a tell-tale sign of prolonged hunger.
Both severe diseases, caused by prolonged hunger, leave irreversible side effects, to both adults and children, to their internal and external parts of the body: internal organ deficiency, swollen remains, height disorders, etc.
Not enough help
Some countries in South America are organizing programs to help. Brazil is among them. They used what is called a "conditional cash transfer". The program called "Bolsa Familia" (meaning Family bag) gives money to families commiting to send their children to school. Over time, Brazil hopes to accelerate the process of reducing hunger and malnutrition within its country. But with a deep recession and poverty on the rise, it will take a lot more than schooling to help the Brazilians.