Gandhi Quote

The Hunger Project Online Briefing Program The Persistence of Hunger in South Asia Page 6 of 29

Birthweight

The measurement of hunger in both individuals and societies is critical for establishing its severity, and identifying the actions we can take to end it. Growth charts for individuals, and Infant Mortality Rate and Low Birthweight for countries, are some of these key measurements.

Measurement of hunger in individuals lets us see how severe the malnutrition is, and to decide how to treat it properly. Most measures compare the height and weight of a hungry child to the size of a healthy child of the same age. Growth charts are used in thousands of villages in South Asia to detect malnutrition in children.

• Measurement of hunger in a society lets us see where hunger persists, how severe it is, and where it is ending.

• The most widely accepted indicator of hunger is the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).

• The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births.

• When a country has an IMR level of 50 or below, it means that hunger as a chronic, persistent, society-wide problem has been ended.

Over the past 50 years, South Asia has made significant progress in reducing its infant mortality rate. At the time of Independence in 1947, India's IMR was close to 200. Today, it stands at 71.

• In Bangladesh in 1970, just before its Independence, the Infant Mortality Rate was 148. Since then, it has dropped to the current figure of 81.

• Infant mortality has declined in large part due to improvements in many key areas—such as vaccinations, immunizations, and safe drinking water.

• Yet there is still some way to go. In particular, issues involving women's empowerment - in areas of nutrition, education and health care - are critical to continued reduction in IMR.

Gandhi Quote

The Hunger Project Online Briefing Program The Persistence of Hunger in South Asia Page 6 of 29

Birthweight