30 Aug 2023

The African region is engaged in a multi-sectoral approach to address nutrition and food insecurity, says WHO director for Africa.

Presenting on nutrition and food insecurity in the African region at the ongoing 73rd Session of Regional Committee for Africa (RC73) on Tuesday, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said despite progress made to address global nutrition targets, millions of people in Africa were still experiencing hunger and all forms of malnutrition.

She noted that the state of food security and nutrition report of 2022 indicated that hunger affected 278 million Africans while almost 900 million people in the region could not afford a healthy diet, which caused malnutrition.

“Our region is also experiencing growing health challenges of obesity and diet related non communicable diseases. The situation is mainly driven by the failure of the current food system to provide safe and healthy food or due to the combined impact of climate change, conflicts and displacements, low productivity, population growth, changing diets as well as the global crisis on food, finance and energy,” said Dr Moeti.

She said COVID-19 also highlighted the fragile nature of Africa’s food system and that there was a need for resilience and adaptability.

She said the impact on individuals, families and communities was far reaching as it did not only affect physical health, but also development, economic productivity and the overall wellbeing of society.

“Addressing these challenges and the root cause of the broken food system requires a collaborative approach and coordinated efforts that draws upon various sectors, expertise experience and resources including health, agriculture, education, social welfare and more,” she said.

Dr Moeti said all stakeholders should use their expertise to assist in paving the way forward.

She said the presence of various sectors at the summit was demonstration of the determination to transcend the status quo and build a more nourished, secure and resilient Africa.

Dr Moeti urged delegates to formulate policies, programmes and partnerships that would drive the transformative change.

South Sudan’s permanent secretary of health, Mr Ader Macar Aciek Ader said his country continued to grapple with malnutrition which was exacerbated by a long history of shocks as well as challenging primary healthcare practices and gender disparity among others.

He said a recent survey in South Sudan on challenges of nutrition and food security revealed that 62 per cent of the population was projected to be affected by food insecurity, and that only 58 per cent had access to potable water.

He argued that without a multi sectoral, coordinated and sustained investment in health, malnutrition would remain a socio-economic and public health challenge.

Mr Ader also said malnutrition was not a result of lack of nutritious and sufficient food, but was caused by intertwining factors such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation.   

He said South Sudan was experiencing high levels of malnutrition among children and that government, in collaboration with development partners, had packages of activities for treatment and prevention of malnutrition although faced with a shortage of funds.

However, he said despite the challenges there was progress as demonstrated by an increase in breast feeding rates.

Giving a background on nutrition and food insecurity in Mozambique, deputy minister of health, Dr Illesh Jani said they were working on ensuring sustained support to citizens while still recovering from a civil war.    

He said terrorist challenges and cholera outbreaks destabilised nutrition programmes, but that they had established platforms to improve food security.

Cape Verde’s Minister of Health, Ms Filomena Mendes Goncalves said food nutrition in Africa needed a multi-sectoral approach.

She said engaging in agriculture gave people the capacity to have food and a balanced diet. ENDS