Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in a Child Depicting Health Inequity (HI) in Kashmir

Abstract

WHO defines health inequities as avoidable inequalities between groups of people within countries and between the countries: Similarly, various global health agencies have provided an extract where Inequity and inequality is clearly defined. These two terms are confusing at times however they are not interchangeable. Health inequity is a situation where differences can be avoided but due to mass corruption, poor governance and in some instances cultural compulsion and exclusion leads to inequity. Health inequity is socially produced therefore it is unfair and avoidable. Example of health inequity between countries are, the infant mortality rate in Iceland is 2 per 1000 live births while it is 120 per 1000 live births in Mozambique. On the other hand health inequality is an unavoidable condition that results due to uneven distribution of health or resources or biological variations of genetic or other factors e.g. Elderly people, who are more likely to die than young adults and children. This case report of a child with PEM is aimed to highlight the issue of health inequity in a Paediatric age group in Kashmir, India. Keywords: PEM (Protein Energy Malnutrition), WHO (World Health Organization), PMJAY (Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojana).