Committee: World Health Organization
Topic: Infant & Child Nutrition
Country: Poland
Infant and Child nutrition is a very prevalent topic in today’s world. It is a topic that includes every continent, both developed and developing nations, both east and west. It affects so many because it is a multi-faceted topic. There are many aspects, all of which require special care and attention. Nutrition is a much larger topic than just satisfying hunger. Children all over the world are plagued by stunting from malnutrition, obesity from empty calories, and Type 2 Diabetes from high sugar intake. Although it is important to end hunger, eating the wrong way can create a whole plethora of new health problems such as stunted growth or obesity. In 2018 roughly 21.9% of children under five were reported as having stunted growth attributed to malnutrition. Another 5.9% of children under five were reported as being overweight from poor nutritional practices. These issues are most prevalent in Africa and Asia, but affect every place on the Earth. Poland believes that through a combination of educating children about nutrition and what makes up a healthy diet we can help give children a better chance at eating properly and avoiding potential health risks. It is also key that parents learn this information so that they can make the right choices for their young children. It is another belief of Poland that through funding aid programs, children everywhere can get a filling and nutritious meal that eliminates the chance of health risks.
Poland has contributed upwards of a million dollars USD to the World Food Programme, a branch of the United Nations that helps get children the food and nutrition that they require to be healthy in life. Poland has ratified the Food Assistance Convention treaty, a treaty that organizes food and nutritional aid to nations in need of such help. Domestically, the Polish government has taken it upon themselves to educate children about healthy eating habits such as limiting sugar and salt intake and eating a proper amount of fruits and vegetables. This is a key step in allowing children to become self dependent when it comes to making healthy dietary and nutritional choices. Because of these actions taken, Poland is on course to meeting its goals on stunting caused by malnutrition in children.
In conclusion, Poland suggests that the W.H.O. take an educational route that builds an understanding of proper nutritional and dietary practices in children and their parents. Children should be able to understand why an eating decision is healthy so that they can make the right decision every time. Parents should also receive this information so that they can make the right choices for infants and very young children. Poland also suggests an increase in funding to proper organizations that can help with the education process and the challenge of actually getting nutritionally rich food to families in need. Poland would support a resolution that has similarities to the Food Assistance Convention treaty ratified by Poland and many other nations and provides a clause that supports the education of families about dietary and nutritional needs. Poland looks forward to putting forth it’s ideas to combat malnutrition and hopes that there are many like-minded nations that support the educational approach that Poland has in mind to combat the issue of malnutrition in infants and children.
- Tyler Ragan
