Happy Thanksgiving from the Global Health Bureau at USAID!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Global Health Bureau at USAID!

On Thanksgiving, families across America will celebrate another bountiful harvest by sharing a dinner of turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more. However, for families across the globe, a nutritious meal isn’t always an option. Undernutrition contributes to 45 percent of under-5 deaths – that’s 2.6 million child deaths each year. In addition, malnutrition makes them far more susceptible to life-threatening illnesses and can have permanent consequences, affecting both their physical and cognitive development. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recognizes that access to nutritious foods and a diverse diet are important factors in reducing malnutrition and ending preventable child and maternal deaths. That’s why we’re committed to reducing chronic malnutrition, measured by stunting, by 20 percent. This translates into 2 million fewer stunted children in the world. The USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy guides USAID’s work in health, agriculture, water and sanitation, and food assistance, working across sectors to improve nutrition in 19focus countries. Learn more Learn about USAID’s nutrition work. Read the USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy. Photo credit: CNFA