Mongolian Nutrition Report

Kendal Gast

ENV S 342

Nutrition Report

2-1-16

Mongolian Trends

            The country of Mongolia has experienced a fair amount of national crises.  Typically tied to economics, Mongolia has also struggled with mass genocides.  These have been related to ethnic cleansing and differences on what religion people should practice.  Mongolia has also faced pollution issues.  The largest issue Mongolia faces is bringing a majority of its people out of poverty.  With a population that hovers around three million, it is unsurprising that this country has trouble coping with mass poverty.  This poverty obviously leads to nutritional deficiencies.  

            Iodine deficiencies are well known in Mongolia.  The World Bank (2009) reported that two thirds of households are not consuming iodized salt.  This typically leads to a thyroid condition called goiter, in which the thyroid swells to large dimensions.  Iodine deficiencies also disrupt cognitive development.  With such a large portion of the population with poor cognitive function, an adequate job force is difficult to find.  A reduced workforce then negatively impacts production of typical Mongolian exports like copper, molybdenum, and zinc, that continues with more consequences.  Reduced production then leads to less money and less aid to those that need it.

            Vitamin A is a second essential human nutrient.  This is an area that Mongolia does not struggle in.  A study done by UNICEF showed that only 4.5% of children struggled with night blindness (2002).  Mongolian children also lack a diverse diet.  Families typically produce their own milk and meat.  However, daily consumption revolves around meat, diary, and flour (Bolormaa et al 2003).  Fruits and vegetables are rarely consumed.  This of course leads to deficiencies in essential micronutrients, although vitamin A as mentioned is not deficient.  This is mainly because potatoes and roots such as carrots are high in Vitamin A, and although Mongolians may not consume carrots, potatoes are a staple. 

            Iron deficiencies and anemia have been prevalent in Mongolia.  Although the study conducted only tested a small part of the population, the conclusions still provided an essential snapshot of Mongolian life.  Around one thousand infants from six to one year old were tested in the cited study (Bolormaa et al 2003).  Of those tested, half had anemia (Bolormaa et al 2003).  Other groups tested, such as older adults, children, and mothers, did not display anemic tendencies or great iron deficiencies (Bolormaa et al 2003).  This could be partially attributed to the fact that infants need a greater iron supply because of their rapid growth rate.  Mongolians also lack vitamin-fortified foods such as flour or salt, thus increasing the likelihood of nutritional deficiencies. 

            Vitamin deficiencies in Mongolia are not morally acceptable.  It is because of foreign intervention that this country has to solve the nutritional and economic problems it faces.  After World War II, foreign aid for Mongolia from Russia and China immediately became nonexistent.  The Mongolian government and people were already used to communist ideologies and practices.  The mindset of extreme dedication to the re/public destroyed the attention that must be paid to individual health and happiness by individuals themselves.  This, in turn, has led Mongolia to poor nutritional standards and lack of economic know-how in order to solve it themselves.  Couple these issue with a small population in relation to the rest of the world, and most other countries choose to turn a blind eye.  Perhaps they are right in that Mongolia can only offer the wealthy the precious ore the land has to offer.  But it is still morally unacceptable for Mongolians to suffer deficiencies because like any other country, they have a right to the basic human necessities of autonomy, food, shelter, and water.

           

Works Cited

Bolormaa et al 2003. Nutritional Consequences of the Dzud in Mongolia.  Pp 19, 22-3. http://www.micronutrient.org/nutritiontoolkit/ModuleFolders/12.Data_entry_analysis_and_%20report_writing/Examples/Report_of_survey_in_Mongolia_(May%202002).pdf Jan 28, 2016.

Ulziibunen, Ch. Dr. (WHO.int) 2003.  Mongolia Nutrition overview. Jan 27^th, 2016. http://www.wpro.who.int/nutrition/documents/docs/mog.pdf

World Bank, The (WorldBank.org) 2009. Nutrition at Glance: Mongolia. Jan 27^th, 2016. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1271963823772/Mongolia.pdf