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[March is "Chemical Month" on 13.7 Billion Years]In the rich world, diarrhea is a hassle. But in the poor world, it is a killer. In Nepal alone, 15,000 children die from diarrhea, just because they do not have zinc to treat it.
According to Nepal's Ministry of Health, around 54,000 children under five die annually due to preventable diseases. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death after pneumonia.
Following a three-day visit to Nepal, Frank Van Assche, director of European Affairs for the International Zinc Association, said that using zinc supplements to treat diarrhea "simply makes sense," according to IRIN.
The government has been actively promoting the consumption of zinc in an attempt to curb diarrhea fatalities. Zinc tablets are given free of charge via a network of health facilities. Any child suffering from diarrhoea is provided with zinc tablets for 10 days in conjunction with oral rehydration salts.
"But despite those efforts, zinc usage is far from optimal," says IRIN. "A survey conducted in 40 districts in February 2010 (a mid-term survey for Nepal Family Health Programme (NFHP) II) found coverage, through public and private distribution, to be just 7 percent."
"According to health workers on the ground, factors hindering zinc coverage include inadequate supply of zinc tablets; weak logistical management; low awareness regarding zinc and its availability within the community; and inadequate understanding of the treatment among health service providers."
In the U.S., the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. Healthy sources of zinc include beans, nuts, almonds, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and blackcurrant.
In the developing world, zinc deficiency affects some two billion people and is associated with many diseases and contributes to the death of about 800,000 children worldwide per year. According to a 2009 UNICEF report, 1.5 million children die from diarrhea each year, mainly from contaminated water.
UNICEF is currently working to conduct a strategic review of Nepal's zinc program and to increase public awareness of how this critical mineral can save lives.
