9th September 2022
Own Correspondent
The Ministry of Health has vowed that that no child in Botswana should die of malnutrition by ensuring there is an abundance of food produced and health standards are put in place, to ensure nutritious food availability for all and also safeguard its safety for consumption.
This also is in perfect sync with the UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 on good health and wellness, which all Batswana need and deserve. The global health crisis of COVID-19, has exposed our economic vulnerability as African countries as well as the weaknesses of our health and food systems.
Dr Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti, Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for Mmathethe Molapowabojong said “Evidence suggests that although the African region seems to have witnessed a decrease in malnutrition of its population by about 13.5%, from 35.5% in 1990 to 22% in 2019, more work still needs to be done to improve nutrition and food security in the continent.”
The meeting today provided a unique opportunity for the Government of Botswana and partners to celebrate the launching of the theme “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development.”
The partners at launch included representatives from the African Union member states, the African Union Commission, NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, African Development Bank, and UN agencies.
“Indeed some great strides have been made in Botswana through interventions introduced to support children’s growth in schools and also through programs targeting the poor and other disadvantaged communities. However, more still needs to be done to make a more permanent impact,” said Dikoloti.
He said, “We need therefore, to aim to reach the endorsed Malabo Declaration goal of reducing stunting to 10% and underweight to 5% by 2025. The Food Security Information Network (FSNI) global report on food crises (2021) indicated that malnutrition remains a challenge as Africa has some of the highest rates of malnutrition globally.”
The 2022 theme that launched today, is anchored on the continental frameworks, including the African Regional Nutrition Strategy (ARNS), which calls on African States to implement multi-sectoral nutrition action plans, budgets and expenditure tracking systems for effective implementation and monitoring of nutrition interventions.
Other strategies, included coherent policies, governance and accountability, building resilience, multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach, link between agriculture and nutrition, financing for nutrition, promotion of trade, knowledge generation and capacity building, as well as commitments to action.
It is in that regard that strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security in the African continent remains a top agenda item, and there is a need to ensure greater food security at national levels.
Access to safe food is not only a human rights issue, but it also enhances national economies, trade and tourism, as well as contributing to nutrition security in our parts of the world.
“We must, in our pursuit of food safety and sufficiency, ensure that we promote the process of technology-transfer, and adoption of integrated value chains with adequate market access at all levels, which will significantly contribute to economic stimulation,” said Grace Muzila, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health.
She said, “I wish to take a trip down memory lane, and recall the commitment made seven years ago by the global community, to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. Evidence shows, however, that nearly 828 million people across the globe were affected by hunger in 2021, an increase by 150 million since 2019. Should these trends continue, the world will not achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, as intended.”
According to officials evidence from the continental nutrition accountability scorecard launched by the African Union and the Africa leaders for Nutrition (ALN) in 2019, globally, 150.8 million children under five years are stunted, and 58.7 million of those stunted are in Africa.
The report also specified that only seven member states have stunting rates below 19%, while fifteen member states have child wasting prevalence below 5%. The report further shows thirty eight member states have women’s anaemia prevalence of more than 30%, whereas only 18 member states have at least 50% of infants exclusively breastfed.
“This unflattering statistics shows that we have a long way to go, in attaining our targets. Africa should double her efforts, not only in ensuring food sufficiency, but also by committing to improving the nutritional status of her people, particularly women and children,” said Muzila.
