Hundreds of food items donated to raise awareness about malnutrition

Health New Zealand’s Southern-based staff have collected hundreds of food items for donation to local charities as part of its efforts to raise awareness about malnutrition.

A 2022 study by Queensland’s Griffith University – backed by Dietitians New Zealand and Dietitians Australia – estimated up to 63 percent of people in Australasia are at risk of developing malnutrition in the community.

The study found that, while the problem is most prevalent among people aged 65 and over, it also affects younger people with acute or chronic health conditions.

It urged healthcare professionals in medicine, nursing, and allied health to recognise and act on suspected malnutrition and frailty among adults living in the community.

Health New Zealand Southern Allied Health, Science, and Technical director Jenny Rakasz says the food drive was initiated to raise awareness during Malnutrition Week (September 16-20) and to help people in the community.

Staff at Dunedin Public Hospital, Wakari Hospital, and Southland Hospital were encouraged to donate tinned food items, which will go to the Salvation Army in Invercargill and St Vincent De Paul in Dunedin. About 500 items have been collected in total so far.

Rakasz has been working with a committee of dietitians, social workers, and speech and language therapists to promote Malnutrition Week among staff and the wider community.

“Malnutrition (or under nutrition) affects about 17 percent of people in our communities, and a further 63 percent of people are at risk of developing this condition,” she says.

“We know that with the increased cost of living, people are struggling to feed themselves and their whānau, and we want to collectively do something positive to help.”

St Vincent de Paul Dunedin pastoral coordinator Sarah Strang says the organisation’s food bank has been busier than ever, and people who visit have increasingly complex needs.

“Food insecurity is often a symptom of much broader challenges, and it's a privilege to walk alongside clients as they navigate their way to a better situation.”

Major Murray Sanson, Corps Officer and Director of Community Ministries for the Salvation Army in Invercargill, says the organisation is seeing continued demand for the food bank service.

“Having extra food available for us to share with these vulnerable people is huge, considering our resources are being stretched to meet this growing need. We have a limited budget, and these extras helps us create more food security.”

Malnutrition is recognised by clinical nutrition bodies worldwide as the result of insufficient energy and protein intake to meet the body’s needs, causing weight loss, wasting of muscle and fat stores, attenuated physical and mental function, and poorer clinical outcomes.

It is also prevalent in hospitals, affecting a third of inpatients in Australia and New Zealand.

Rakasz says the malnutrition committee is challenging wards to keep focusing on weekly malnutrition screening, with the ward that has the highest percentage of screens versus total patients rewarded with a morning tea.

“The incidence of malnutrition in Australasian hospitals is found to be between 20 and 50 percent,” she says.

“Malnutrition increases the length of hospital stays by up to five days. It also increases the risk of pressure injuries (body sores), poor surgical outcomes, and wound healing, and can cause a lack of energy and increased mortality. We need to be proactive at detecting it and treating it”.

The donated food items will be collected by the Salvation Army at Southland Hospital on Monday, and by St Vincent de Paul at Dunedin Hospital on Tuesday.