Intergenerational Cycles of Poverty and Inequity
Promoting Health Equity by Improving Nutrition
Vitamin Angels envisions a world where everyone, everywhere, has a chance to fulfill their potential. We focus on improving nutrition because it is proven to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health, and leads to greater economic success for individuals and entire communities.
The Cycle of Poverty and Health Inequity Carries Across Generations
Poor nutrition in pregnancy, infancy, and childhood leads to economic and health disparities that can last more than 30 years and span across generations. Malnourished pregnant women face significant health risks, like anemia and impaired fetal growth, which increase the likelihood of long term health complications and mortality in both the mother and baby. Malnourished newborns are more likely to experience impaired physical and cognitive development and mortality. Malnourished children who survive to their fifth birthday do not perform as well in school and grow up to earn lower incomes in the workforce. As adults, they are more likely to have families of their own that face the same disparities.
The Wider Consequences of Poverty and Health Inequity
Access to essential nutrition interventions can break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and health inequity. Most governments offer health and nutrition services intended to meet the needs of their citizens. But despite their best efforts, limited resources can constrain their ability to do so. This is where Vitamin Angels comes in. We partner with more than 1,200 local groups, including government, and nongovernmental organizations who provide health and nutrition services to underserved women and children. We seek to support only those initiatives that are complementary to and coordinated with existing national health services.
By promoting health and economic equity across the lifespan, we help build a healthier, more equitable world for everyone, everywhere.
Understand Our Impact
Vitamin Angels strengthens, extends, and amplifies existing efforts.
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