Abstract

The current global food crisis and economic downturn, is confronting the poor with challenges of food security and nutrition globally. Volatile food prices continue and wages for unskilled labour are unable to keep pace. The resultant financial crisis has increased the rate of unemployment and decreased the financial ability of poor people to buy goods as they now feel the unpleasant effects of a globalized economy. The crisis has reduced the accessible funds needed for the social protection of the most vulnerable people from malnourishment. Literature has recognized that poor people in developing countries spend more than half of their earnings on food with little or nothing for health. With limited income, circumscribed budgets, and less food intake, poor households reduce their calorie intake. This means developing country consumers shift to even less-balanced diets with micronutrient deficiencies. The paper is to explore health promotion and disease prevention strategies that the nurse can use to maintain adequate nutrition in a depressed economy. The thrust of this paper is the social advocacy role of the nurse. Nurses as ombudsmen must rise to the challenge and use their professional skills and nursing knowledge to provide nutrition information to the various age groups on how good nutrition can prevent diseases and impaired cognitive development.


Keywords: Economy, Depressed Economy, Nutrition, Health Promotion, Disease prevention.