A National Voice for Addressing Hunger
“Recognizing and addressing food insecurity is good medicine,” says Kofi D. Essel, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P. “We have to ask people if they’re getting enough food. Food insecurity is ubiquitous, in all our counties and most importantly in all our pediatric practices.”
Dr. Essel provides pediatric care at Children’s National Anacostia where he sees many families struggling with this issue. Hunger has a significant impact on young kids when their brains and bodies are developing rapidly. Not having enough to eat accelerates and compounds child and family household stress. Children may experience delays in physical and cognitive development with lasting consequences.
“Addressing food insecurity can’t be simply about providing food,” says Dr. Essel. “It’s about addressing social inequities. It’s about supporting families with a livable wage, improving transportation and housing.” In 2022, Dr. Essel spoke at the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
He says private support makes a difference. “Philanthropists care about meeting community needs. They want to collaborate with us and know how things are going. At the peak of the COVID pandemic, private support allowed us to deliver hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to families. Funding ensures that families connect to meaningful resources that help them live healthier lives.”
Dr. Essel provides pediatric care at Children’s National Anacostia where he sees many families struggling with this issue. Hunger has a significant impact on young kids when their brains and bodies are developing rapidly. Not having enough to eat accelerates and compounds child and family household stress. Children may experience delays in physical and cognitive development with lasting consequences.
“Addressing food insecurity can’t be simply about providing food,” says Dr. Essel. “It’s about addressing social inequities. It’s about supporting families with a livable wage, improving transportation and housing.” In 2022, Dr. Essel spoke at the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
He says private support makes a difference. “Philanthropists care about meeting community needs. They want to collaborate with us and know how things are going. At the peak of the COVID pandemic, private support allowed us to deliver hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to families. Funding ensures that families connect to meaningful resources that help them live healthier lives.”
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