Caritas India’s Lenten
campaign against malnutrition
 |
| The ravages of malnutritionon a child's body (AFP) |
"Nutrition: our right", is the theme of the Lenten
campaign of Caritas India for 2019.
Caritas India, the charitable arm of the Catholic Church of
India, has launched a Lenten campaign against hunger by creating an awareness
among people regarding solidarity, food security, medical care and a dignified
life for all citizens.
The theme of the Lenten campaign 2019, launched last month,
is, "Nutrition: our right". It aims at fighting the scourge of
malnutrition, which it regards as a "painful and shameful for
humanity".
According to the charity arm of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of India (CBCI), the nation, with its resources, is be able to feed
its inhabitants, yet it continues to be one home to one of the highest numbers
of malnourished women and children in the world.
Malnutrition
According to official data, 38.4% of children in India
suffer from rickets and 35.8% from underweight, both of which are liked to
malnutrition. Despite the enviable rate of economic growth, millions of
children in the country suffer from hunger. Malnutrition is a debilitating
condition that weakens the child's immune system, increases its exposure to
diseases and therefore increases the mortality rate.
According to Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, the assistant
executive director of Caritas India, "Malnutrition as a result of extreme
poverty and inequality, irreversibly damages both individuals and society and
increases the burden of the disease on families and governments."
"During Lent, in which believers are invited to
conversion and to love for God and neighbour, we intend to raise awareness
among the ecclesial communities on the situation of the poor, the hungry, the
malnourished, farmers and migrants looking for work,” he told the Vatican’s
Fides news agency.
Bible vs malnutrition, hunger
Fr. Puthenpura explained that the Bible is the inspiration
for this Lenten campaign. Jesus saw the hungry crowd and had compassion
on them. From the Book of Genesis, we learn that malnutrition dehumanizes
the image and likeness of God that is in every person.
The priest said that “the Church must play its role as a
catalyst and mobilize consciences so that communities express their solidarity
and commitment to feed the poor and the hungry."
The assistant executive director of Caritas India said that
“the compassion of Jesus needs to be lived and experienced in the life of all,
in order to wipe out the stain of hunger and malnutrition from society”.
“Pope Francis,” he said, “urges us to take urgent action to help those who live
in desperate circumstances, because the poor cannot wait".
SDGs
India’s Catholic Church is aware of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) that the United Nations member states set for
themselves in 2015 to be achieved by 2030. SDG No. 2 aims to end hunger,
achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture.
Fr. Puthenpura said that India’s Catholic communities intend
to “play their part”. (Source: Fides)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét