NIRSA joins the fight to eradicate childhood malnutrition

NIRSA has recently signed an agreement with the REDNI Foundation (the Network for Childhood Nutrition), to provide comprehensive support for expecting mothers in vulnerable situations in the parish of Posorja (Guayaquil). As a result, the company continues to promote actions which aim to combat chronic childhood malnutrition in Ecuador.

Through this alliance, it will be possible to support recipients with a programme which covers the first 1000 days of life of a child, from pregnancy until 2 years of age. As part of this process, support is provided in the form of gynaecological check-ups, pregnancy control, and nutritional training and assistance.

It should be highlighted that 1 out of 3 children under the age of 2 suffers from chronic childhood malnutrition in Ecuador, which is the country with the second highest rate of chronic childhood malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean. There are various causes of this issue, including an inadequate diet, lack of access to drinking water and food, insufficient medical supervisions of both mothers and their children, as well as the lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months, followed by breastfeeding and complementary feeding until 2 years of age. All these factors lead to a delay in physical growth and general child development. Furthermore, chronic childhood malnutrition is linked to lower cognitive skills, limited school performance, and low productivity in adult life.

“At NIRSA, we are passionate about feeding the future, which is linked to our promise to achieve a better society and a country with a future for everyone. This is the reason for which we strive to fight the harrowing issue of chronic childhood malnutrition. We think it is essential to offer comprehensive support to mothers during the first 1000 days of their child’s life, from providing training on the importance of nutrition, to medical supervisions for the mother and her child. In doing so, we guarantee better living conditions for the Ecuador of the future.” commented Melissa Aguirre, Corporate Affairs Manager of NIRSA.

Other actions implemented by NIRSA to promote sufficient nutrition:

• NIRSA is a member of the UN Global Compact and has incorporated the principles of the Global Compact into all of its actions, all of which contribute to the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
• In 2021, NIRSA joined the panel discussion for the SDG #2 Zero Hunger, an initiative which promotes working together to reduce the chronic malnutrition gap in the country and to improve the live of the residents of the Bolivar province, of the parish of Simiatug.
• Through various awareness campaigns, the company has constantly promoted guides to practice a balanced diet to its audience. These actions are spread through newsletters, social media, its website, amongst others.
• In 2022, NIRSA formed an alliance with the Diakonía World Food Bank, with the goal of combating malnutrition of vulnerable people in the city of Guayuaquil. Throguh this joint effort, the company has been able to carry out various donations of products, like tuna and sardines, which contribute to the nutrition of its recipients

Through these actions, NIRSA reaffirms its commitment to the social development of Ecuador.

By Jessy Andrade, Communications Consultant, NIRSA