The Editor, Sir:

An article titled 'Food hikes leave children vulnerable' was carried in The Sunday Gleaner of April 20. The article focused on the link between rising food prices and child nutrition. Reference was made to comments I made at the launch of the Social Investment for Children Initiative (SICI) on April 14, which highlighted the likely impact of rising food prices on the most vulnerable in society. The essential point that I sought to make was that as food prices increase, all groups become vulnerable and those groups which are already vulnerable, especially the poor, particularly poor children, face a greater risk of having poor nutritional status. For these highly vulnerable groups, appropriate policy measures need to be put in place.

Consequences

The article made reference to obesity as a consequence of rising food prices. That was not the point I made as obesity is not a new phenomenon in Jamaica: both under-nourishment and overnourishment existed before the current food crisis. A priority of policymakers has to be to ensure that rising food prices do not cause an escalation in these nutritional challenges as there are short-, medium- and long-term consequences.

We must pay attention to nutrition now because in 20 to 25 years, poor nutrition will result in poor health, poor educational outcomes and, inevitably, even more poverty.

Greatest security threat

We must, therefore, be proactive by: (1) addressing poor nutrition in children and pregnant and lactating mothers; and (2) improving our food security and reducing our dependence on imported food.

Food security/vulnerability may well be the greatest security threat to national sustainable development as it undermines the ability of our people by minimising their potential to be healthy, productive individuals. Our children's nutrition must, therefore, be a priority if we are serious about creating a sustainable future.

I am, etc.,

Dr WESLEY HUGHES

Director General, PIOJ