The Link Between Malnutrition and Safe Water Access
Malnutrition is intricately linked to access to safe water. Both chronic and acute forms of malnutrition can cause significant dysfunction, particularly in children. Each year, 1 to 2 million children die from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). It’s so widespread that malnutrition is estimated to contribute to nearly half of all childhood deaths under the age of five.
I have personally witnessed the heartbreaking effects of malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa, suffering that is almost unimaginable for those of us in the West. Babies afflicted with SAM fight every second just to breathe. When I entered the malnutrition ward filled with the most severe cases, the silence was deafening. The disease is so devastating that infants are too weak to cry despite their pain. Holding a baby with SAM, you can feel every bone beneath their paper-thin skin.
Even less severe cases of malnutrition have long-term consequences. Chronic malnutrition disrupts proper development, leading to stunting (when children are too short for their age) and wasting (when children weigh too little for their height). These effects often carry into adulthood, affecting a person’s physical and cognitive potential.
The good news is that malnutrition is preventable, and safe water lies at the heart of the solution.
Diarrhea and the Malnutrition Cycle
Unsafe drinking water, or food washed in contaminated water, often leads to waterborne illnesses, most commonly diarrhea. In some cases, infant formula is mixed with unsafe water, compounding the risks. Diarrhea prevents the body from absorbing nutrients and weakens the immune system. At the same time, malnutrition lowers a child’s ability to fight infections, making diarrhea both a cause and a consequence. This creates a vicious cycle that is incredibly difficult to break without addressing the root issues.
Harmful Water Substitutes
In Hispaniola and Mesoamerica, where Healing Waters operates extensively, many families resort to sugary beverages due to the lack of safe drinking water. This habit contributes to chronic health issues like diabetes and heart disease. In Chiapas, Mexico, home to Healing Waters’ Rosalbali project, the state has the highest soda consumption in the nation, driven in part by the scarcity of clean water.
Interventions and Systemic Gaps
Therapeutic foods, specialized formulas, and nutritional supplements are prescribed to treat malnutrition. However, during my time in Sub-Saharan Africa, I learned that several children return to clinics repeatedly with severe malnutrition. This underscores the reality that we cannot treat malnutrition without addressing its systemic causes.
Food security, maternal education, and access to healthcare are all critical, but without safe water, children remain trapped in a cycle of illness and malnutrition.
Conclusion
Safe water access sits at the nexus of many global challenges. The work of organizations like Healing Waters is not only critical—it is urgent. Access to clean water is a powerful force in the fight against disease, poverty, and suffering. It is time we recognize and invest in it as a fundamental right and a foundational step toward a healthier world.