The first two decades of the 21st century witnessed an unprecedented surge in global health progress. Child mortality rates plummeted by 50%, with the number of children dying annually decreasing from over 10 million to under 5 million. The prevalence of deadly infectious diseases also halved, with the most notable improvements seen in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This positive trend, however, was abruptly halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the world grappling with a myriad of challenges, including the worst child health crisis in recent history – malnutrition.
The stark reality is that the world is facing a perfect storm of challenges. Inflation, debt, and new conflicts are adding to the existing burden, and climate change is further exacerbating the situation. The impact on child health is particularly alarming. New data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveal that between 2024 and 2050, climate change will contribute to an additional 40 million stunted children and 28 million suffering from wasting. These forms of malnutrition have devastating consequences, hindering both physical and cognitive development, leading to long-term health and economic ramifications. Children who experience severe malnutrition before the age of three are likely to complete five fewer years of schooling and earn 10% less over their lifetimes compared to their well-nourished counterparts.
The global health boom was fueled by several factors, including a new wave of politically engaged humanitarianism, a surge in health workers dedicated to delivering vital medical services to underserved communities, and crucially, a significant increase in funding. Since the year 2000, developed nations have steadily increased their foreign aid, with the most generous countries contributing around 1% of their gross national income. This financial support played a pivotal role in empowering organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, enabling them to provide life-saving vaccines, drugs, and other medical breakthroughs to low-income countries.
Despite the remarkable progress achieved during the first two decades of the century, the battle for global health is far from over. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of child mortality, accounting for over half of all child deaths globally. The region’s poverty rate has also increased by over 20 points since 2010, reaching almost 60%. Yet, during this same period, the percentage of foreign aid directed to Africa has declined from nearly 40% to just 25%, representing the lowest percentage in two decades. This decline in resources means more children will succumb to preventable diseases. The question looming large is: is the global health boom over, or is it merely a temporary pause before another surge in progress?
The answer lies in our collective commitment. We must recommit ourselves to the strategies that propelled the initial success, particularly in investments in essential vaccines and medicines, which continue to save millions of lives each year. We also need to embrace forward-thinking solutions, focusing on the research and development pipeline that holds immense promise for cost-effective innovations. One area that deserves immediate attention is nutrition. While it was initially overlooked, the understanding of nutrition’s crucial role in overall health has grown significantly in recent years. Addressing malnutrition is not just about preventing hunger; it is a gateway to tackling broader health issues, including poverty, and enhancing the effectiveness of vaccines.
Fortunately, there are cost-efficient interventions available, such as super-fortified bouillon and enhanced prenatal vitamins. The potential impact of scaling up these innovations is immense. In Nigeria, for instance, modeling suggests that fortifying bouillon cubes could not only prevent anemia but also avert over 11,000 deaths from neural tube defects. Moreover, adopting multiple micronutrient supplements for prenatal care could save nearly half a million lives by 2040.
The fate of the global health boom rests on our collective resolve. We have the opportunity to launch a second wave of progress by prioritizing children’s nutritional needs, paving the way for a healthier and brighter future for generations to come.