Myleene Klass and Natasha Kaplinsky
Myleene Klass and Natasha Kaplinsky are launching a new campaign, No Child Born to Die which exposes the shocking reality of hunger and malnutrition experienced by millions of children across the world.
The host ambassadors served a breakfast that families in the developing world would typically eat - nutrient-poor plain rice or cassava - at an event last week.
The charity, Save the Children revealed that malnutrition will leave half a billion children mentally and physically impaired over the next fifteen years.
Myleene Klass and Natasha Kaplinsky recently visited the charity’s work in Bangladesh and Mozambique respectively to investigate the true scale of child malnutrition.
Their visits highlight that children across the developing world are facing a hidden hunger crisis. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of 300 child deaths every hour but it is rarely cited on death certificates, because children's weakened systems succumb to other common killers like pneumonia or diarrhoea.
Myleene Klass, who announced her new role as Save the Children ambassador at the end of January said: “I was very emotional throughout my trip in Bangladesh, particularly when I came face to face with the children struggling to survive on tiny amounts of food. I have two small girls aged four and ten months and I couldn't believe that some of the babies that I met of the same age were half the size of Ava and Hero.”
“Over half of the population of Bangladesh live on less than $1 per day. Mothers here are totally helpless, unable to afford the costs of food that their children need. Babies are literally wasting away in front of their parents eyes simply because they’re not getting enough of the right things to eat. Millions need our help. That's why I'm supporting Save the Children's push for a world hunger summit to tackle this crisis."
Last year Britain showed powerful leadership on helping the world’s poorest children, galvanising global action and funds to secure vaccinations for millions of children, potentially saving four million lives. Save the Children is today asking David Cameron to do the same to stop children dying because of malnutrition. The charity is asking him to help lead the biggest push in history to reduce hunger, and hold a World Hunger Summit to agree and fund concrete action to tackle this crisis.
The Save the Children ambassadors visited local markets, where recent rises in prices have made many nutritious foods unaffordable and joined families for a typical breakfast during their trips. At the launch event in London, they served a similar breakfast to London school-children, consisting of white rice in Bangladesh and cassava in Mozambique.
Natasha Kaplinsky explains: “Cassava is practically void of nutritional value. But this is what the poorest children are eating in Mozambique. There is no choice and no variety. There is plenty of food available but with rising prices even an egg or a sip of milk is beyond the reach of most families. It shouldn’t be like this – please help Save the Children put an end to the hidden hunger crisis.”
Save the Children is asking people up and down the country to add their voices to the call for a global hunger summit by naming their own day when they will take action. People can find out more by visiting www.savethechildren.org.uk/nameaday or by following #nameaday via @savechildrenuk or @savechildrenpr.
Tagged in Myleene Klass Natasha Kaplinsky David Cameron Charity