Infants and children under conditions of deprivation die a slow silent death as a consequence of: malnutrition of mothers, inattention during pregnancy and birth, and neglect of natural practices like breastfeeding; ignorance about when to wean and the foods suitable for that stage; helplessness in responding to common illnesses such as diarrhoea in infants and young children; lack of knowledge of, and lack of access to, immunization against common childhood illnesses; absence of awareness about deficiencies in iron, iodine and vitamin A which lead to debility, cretinism and blindness; indifference to, or ignorance about, the need to periodically watch the growth, in weight and height, of children, as an expression of their status of nutrition and health.