Determine the first 1000 days of your health … Mexico is still priority

Although there are few of them, the first 1000 days of life – from pregnancy to the second Christmas – are determined by health over time.

Medical research, such as Those that Lancet leads Y Specialized centers such as TEC De MontereyThey showed that this stage affects the various aspects such as the risk of obesity, the formation of intestinal microbial tumor, the development of the brain, the appearance of mental illness and metabolism.

The concept has gained reasons among specialists in Pediatrics, nutrition and general healthBut it is still far from Effectively permeate in Mexican public policies.

You may be interested in reading: “Early childhood is the key to the formation of healthy adults”

Health, brain and microbi

During a thousand days, Body growth And the brain It is accelerated and very sensitive to factors such as Food, emotional environment and motivation.

At this stage when most nervous links are formed, Metabolism And I know They build the rules of the immune system.

For example, intestinal microbial tumor begins stability during childbirth and is affected by factors such as birth type (vaginal or caesarean section) and breastfeeding.

A diet rich in fiber and natural foods from the first months can reduce the risk of conditions such as Asthma, allergies, obesity And even depression in the subsequent stages.

In addition, and The presence of stress, violence or neglect At home, it has a verified effects on the child’s brain structure, which affects its educational ability, emotional organization and mental health in the future.

Mexico: Many births, a little investment

Despite the strength of scientific evidence, in Mexico this period of life is still subject. According to Adriana Gidi, Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center for Monterery Technology, Mexican public policy remains almost exclusively in the first two years of life, then fades.

“Two years later, medical visits are diverged and children still do not enter the official education system. It is a gray area outside the institutional radar,” Jaidi explained in an interview.

This negligence is dangerous if it is considered that, according to a national survey by TEC, according to TEC. 6 out of 10 Mexican children grow in contexts From physical or emotional neglect, which directly affects your physical and mental health.

The cost of non -investment: up to 19 times more expensive

In addition to the human consequences, neglect has an economic effect as well. The Nobel James Heakman Prize showed in a longitudinal study that investment in early childhood generates a return between 8 and 19 times the investment that was made, mainly due to the low costs related to health, justice, education and productivity.

However, Mexico invests between 0.5 and 1.6 % of GDP in policies aimed at this category of population, less than international recommendations.

Towards a national agenda for early care and education

The new series of Lancet About 1000 next day (From 2 to 5 years) is enhanced The urgency to maintain the escort of the state After the second year of life.

According to the study, Only 29.9 % of children In countries with low and medium income Get sensitive and sufficient care At this stage, in Mexico, only 44 % of minors attend primary or pre -school education services.

Organizations such as the early childhood center in TEC, FEMSA, Sipinna and Pact Early Childhood started to express efforts with the aim of linking evidence with decision makers.

“We have the opportunity to change the history of millions of children. It is not only the health of the child, but rather it is related to the future of the country.”

BGPA