By Winnie Kamau
Technical experts of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition (GLO PAN) estimate the cost of malnutrition globally at US Dollars 3.5 Trillion per year.
But the most worrying fact is that Africa is in a tight noose where it is being attacked by all forms of Malnutrition. These includes undernutrition, obesity ,stunting and micronutrient deficiency.
The experts are sounding alarm bells for donors to put their money where their mouth is as the saying goes. Worrying statistics show that at least 2.6 million people die every year due to being overweight or obese.
Africa has not been left behind as the demographics continue to widen with a rift between the Poor and the Rich masses. Most children from the affluent families are either obese or overweight which has led to the increase of lifestyle diseases like hypertension. A contrast is seen in the poor families where they are grappling with malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency for their children as putting a meal on the table for many has become unmountable hurdle.
During the launch on the Cost of malnutrition by Victor Ajieroh the Senior Program Officer on Nutrition in Nigeria at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation noted the radical contrasts ailing Africa and especially the developing economies. Ajieroh noted “ Obesity is a growing concern in the developing countries we have undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency overweight and obesity at the same time in same society”
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina noted “We must leave a better legacy, a legacy not of stunted children or stunted economies but a legacy of boisterous economies”
Kenya’s children under five years old are stunted, 25% of Kenyan women are anaemic, while rates of obesity and the associated non-communicable diseases are increasing rapidly .E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime of the African Union Commision (AUC) noted with concern the amount of money saved if it was invested in nutrition programs “Decreasing stunting by 40% could save the equivalent of 83 billion US dollars.”
Former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete who was part of the high level panel during the Agricultural Revolution Forum (AGRF) underscored the need to invest in Nutrition programs. “Nutrition education is particularly critical, it is not that food is not there; feeding stomachs is not the same as providing nutritious food.” adding “Nutrition does not currently get the attention it deserves.”
Africa is said to be the richest continent in the world with its wealth of resources if managed well could feed the world and itself and remain with surplus but Africa imports 25 Billion US Dollars worth of food every year.
Speaking to Ajieroh after the launch explains that for every Dollar one invests in nutrition programs will get $18 in return “We need to avert loss of productivity, for every dollar spent you get $16 to $18 in return” adding “We need to invest money in nutrition programs, maternal nutrition, post harvest loss, in fortified nutrients and the health bills will go.”
Ajieroh called on African leaders to invest in nutrition saying “ For every increase in height you increase your earning potential .”
Global Panel Member, Dr. Agnes Kalibata and the President of AGRA noted .“Investing in nutrition and agriculture is investing in Africa’s future” as she emphasised the theme of the 2016 AGRF Seize the moment, securing Africa’s rise through agricultural transformation and the critical need for nutrition to be integrated into agricultural initiatives adding “To me, the brain matters in development for any human being is determined on how it is nurtured from a young age, so nutrition must be the priority for all of us.”
