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We are all aware of the form of severe malnutrition called Kwashiokor. The more encompassing terminology is Protein Energy Malnutrition [PEM] which is a spectrum of states of undernutrition including Kwashiokor, Marasmus and a combination of the two, Marasmic-Kwashiokor.
It is a disease spectrum that reflects poverty usually plaguing the under five population born of parents of low socioeconomic status.
The chief culprits in addition to poverty in the causology are ignorance and infection; all constituting the notorious “vicious triad” which are prevalent in Africa and other 3rd world countries.
Severe forms of malnutrition when born primarily of poverty is excusable — not acceptable but excusable, as the variables in play may loosely be viewed as fixed; simply put, the hands of the “chief players” — the parents,to a reasonable extent are tied. But when ignorance is the principal variable, more especially when so on a background of apparent plenty, it is disheartening to say the least.
The sad truth is that with the recent wave of skewed westernisation, of unreserved preference for refined and artificial feeds over their natural counterparts enriched with nutrients, cases of PEM due to ignorance with poverty out of the equation has being on the increase.
