The Kingdom of Lesotho, African Union Commission, African Development Bank and partners have called for a renewed commitment to boost nutrition for Africa’s children. Leaders have committed to an ambitious target to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Africa by 40 percent by 2025.
The commitment was made during a high-level roundtable hosted by King Letsie III as the African Union’s Champion for Nutrition on the margins of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa. The roundtable held in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank, African Leaders for Nutrition, Big Win, Food and Agricultural Organisation and Nutrition International focused on ‘Addressing Malnutrition, Catalyzing Africa’s Transformation through Enhanced Multi-Sectoral Investments.’
Speaking on behalf of King Letsie III, the Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane called on African Union Member States to present policy and programme solutions for scaling up nutrition through multi-sector investments.
He said their commitment as leaders remains a pivotal pillar in driving policy and legislative actions to tackle malnutrition, showing that Member States need to adopt stronger policies and increase financing for nutrition to turn the tide of malnutrition and secure the future of children.
Prime Minister Matekane further commended the commitment of the African Leaders for Nutrition entity towards engaging African Leaders to do more to enhance nutrition for the continent’s overall well-being and economic development.
The African Development Bank Group President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina said leaders have a duty and responsibility to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Africa by 40 percent by 2025, saying it is just one year from now hence critical that strong political policies be deployed by Heads of State and Government to tackle malnutrition.
Dr Adesina said poor nutrition prevents school-age children from realising their educational potential, diminishes work productivity and hinders much-needed contributions to society as well as negatively impacts economic growth.
As a co-founder of African Leaders for Nutrition, a platform for high-level political engagement that aims to influence innovative investments towards nutrition and food security, the Bank Group President warned that the situation could deteriorate further if action is not taken.
Re-emphasizing the importance of political leadership and collaboration in the fight against malnutrition, the African Union’s Commissioner for Health, Ms. Minata Samate Cessouma, speaking on behalf of the African Union Chairperson, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, called on all Member States to unite their efforts in the fight against malnutrition.
Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Representative in Ethiopia, Ms. Farayi Zimudzi remarked that there are more stunted children today than 20 years ago and that Africa’s stunting statistics are on the rise, saying every dollar invested in nutrition can yield a return of 16 dollars. Tackling malnutrition makes economic sense.
To date, some 86 million children below five years of age face various forms of malnutrition, 63 million are stunted, 10 million are overweight, while three million are wasted and this is believed to have posed enormous development challenges for Africa.
Source: LENA 25/02/2024
