• Undernutrition is the largely preventable cause of over a third—3.5 million—of all child deaths. (Horton, R., Maternal and Child Undernutrition: An Urgent Opportunity, 2008)
• Four-fifths of undernourished children live in just twenty countries across four regions—Africa, Asia, western Pacific, and the Middle East. (Horton, R., Maternal and Child Undernutrition: An Urgent Opportunity, 2008)
• In terms of under-five mortality rates, the most immediate needs are for Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya, Yemen, and Burma. (Black, R. et al. Maternal and Child Undernutrition: Global and Regional Exposures and Health Consequences, 2008)
• Maternal and child undernutrition is highly prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, resulting in substantial increases in mortality and overall disease burden. (Black, R. et al. Maternal and Child Undernutrition: Global and Regional Exposures and Health Consequences, 2008)
• Despite isolated successes in specific countries or for interventions—eg, iodised salt and vitamin A supplementation—most countries with high rates of undernutrition are failing to reach undernourished mothers and children with effective interventions supported by appropriate policies. (Bryce, J. et al. Maternal and Child Undernutrition: Effective Action at National Level, 2008)
• There is no magic technological bullet to solve the problem of undernutrition. Long-term investments in the role of women as full and equal citizens—through education, economic, social, and political empowerment—will be the only way to deliver sustainable improvements in maternal and child nutrition, and in the health of women and children more generally. (Horton, R., Maternal and Child Undernutrition: An Urgent Opportunity, 2008)

Articles cited above can be found at: www.thelancet.com/online/focus/undernutrition