by Anne Lynam Goddard, ChildFund President and CEO I’ve often
said that childhood is a one-time opportunity. It was heartening
to find strong support for this concept at the “Partnering to
Reduce Child Undernutrition” session held during the MDG Summit
this week in New York. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton
and Michaél Martin, T.D., Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,
co-hosted the event, which spotlighted the critical 1,000-day
nutrition window that starts with a mother’s pregnancy and
continues until the child is 2 years old. Leaders from
governments, international organizations, civil society
organizations and the private sector emphasized that
undernutrition for children under age 2 causes physiological and
mental limitations that can never be made up. At this meeting,
two objectives emerged: 1) Call attention to the 1,000-day
nutrition window that ensures a healthier and more prosperous
future for children. 2) Gain multilateral support for
alleviating child hunger and undernutrition over the n