25% of kids 'stunted, impaired'
The situation was further aggravated by the devastating droughts and floods that have plagued the country for the last five years.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
One quarter of Namibian children are malnourished, with stunted growth and impaired mental development, because of the country's high food insecurity, according to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. She said this situation was further aggravated by the devastating droughts and floods that have plagued the country for the last five years.
Worsening
“Food insecurity worsened last year, especially due to the 2019 devastating drought which impacted on the harvest of that year. While we had received a better harvest this year, with Covid-19, these statistics may worsen,” she said.
Speaking at a meeting on the country's food and nutrition security policy, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the best way Namibia could ensure food security was through a coherent and resilient approach.
She added that this policy is a revision of the 1995 food and nutrition policy, supported by a comprehensive and costed implementation action plan and coordination structure.
According to her, a mid-term review will be done to take stock of the implementation of the policy. That would enable the government to reflect and address the challenges faced in implementing the policy.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia calls upon on all stakeholders to commit to, and invest in, food and nutrition security to ensure the effective implementation of this policy, with the common goal to end hunger and eliminate all forms of malnutrition and its related consequences affecting the Namibian population, and ultimately contribute to attaining our Vision 2030,” she said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
One quarter of Namibian children are malnourished, with stunted growth and impaired mental development, because of the country's high food insecurity, according to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. She said this situation was further aggravated by the devastating droughts and floods that have plagued the country for the last five years.
Worsening
“Food insecurity worsened last year, especially due to the 2019 devastating drought which impacted on the harvest of that year. While we had received a better harvest this year, with Covid-19, these statistics may worsen,” she said.
Speaking at a meeting on the country's food and nutrition security policy, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the best way Namibia could ensure food security was through a coherent and resilient approach.
She added that this policy is a revision of the 1995 food and nutrition policy, supported by a comprehensive and costed implementation action plan and coordination structure.
According to her, a mid-term review will be done to take stock of the implementation of the policy. That would enable the government to reflect and address the challenges faced in implementing the policy.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia calls upon on all stakeholders to commit to, and invest in, food and nutrition security to ensure the effective implementation of this policy, with the common goal to end hunger and eliminate all forms of malnutrition and its related consequences affecting the Namibian population, and ultimately contribute to attaining our Vision 2030,” she said.
[email protected]
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