In Spain there is no problem of malnutrition, but of malnutrition
Representatives of the associative fabric, associations of mothers and fathers of students and pediatric doctors have participated in the Servimedia Communication Forum on 'Childhood Poverty and Nutrition' in which the main consequences of the economic crisis on the eating habits of schoolchildren in Spain.
Although the statistical data does not end up being clear, the The situation of poverty in Spain has worsened in recent years as a result of the economic crisis.
Child poverty: priority on the political agenda
Carlos Susías, president of EAPN-Spain, points out that the situation of child poverty "is consequence of public, economic and social policies They have been carried out not only in the last four years, but over a long time. "According to Susías, the responsibility of eliminate poverty It belongs to the Public Administrations at European, national and regional level. "We have not wanted to address this issue," he says, "and the child poverty as a priority".
For this reason, he points out that "the development of a pact for childhood"with specific measures that ensure" access to adequate and quality services ".
Alberto Casado, head of campaigns of Help in Action, explains that after more than 30 years oriented to assistance in southern countries, two years ago they began to develop child feeding programs in educational centers.
For its part, Macarena Céspedes, responsible for Campaigns and Incidence of Educo, ensures that childhood "should be considered a common benefit"and therefore also be" a matter of civil society, based on the solidarity and the commitment ", but" it is time that who has to assume their responsibilities, assume them ".
Healthy foods are more expensive
José Manuel Moreno, coordinator of the Nutrition Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, said that although "there is a high percentage of the population where there are children below the poverty line", we are not facing a problem of malnutrition due to hunger, but we face a situation "much richer and more complex", aggravated by the crisis, but that existed long before. The crisis, Moreno explained, "affects the deterioration of the diet" of childhood in Spain, "since consuming healthy foods is more expensive" and, paradoxically, this situation "leads to the development of diseases that have to do with excess", since" it is much cheaper to feed on products that contain more energy but less nutrients ".
Food as part of the educational model
In the words of José Luis Pazos, spokesperson of the Spanish Confederation of Associations of Parents of Students (CEAPA), the claim of dining scholarships It dates back to almost ten years ago. Pazos assures that there is a hidden bag of families that do not dare to tell the situation they are living through. fear of losing custody of their children, "and that is a situation that Public Administrations can solve, making it clear that it is not a question of punishing those who are in a delicate situation, but helping them. feeding begins to be part of the educational model", as is already done in other countries, thus ensuring that food is not an accessory issue.
Isabel Martínez
