African nations unite to fight malnutrition
What you need to know:
- Malnutrition and stunting rates in the region range between 30 and 40 percent, disproportionately affecting girls, many of whom also face anaemia-related health issues.
Arusha. Over 15 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa are collaborating to establish a regional institution focused on nutrition and public health communication.
The proposed Public Health in Nutrition and Communication College will train specialists to interpret and disseminate nutrition-related data while also equipping experts to address malnutrition and stunting challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking in Arusha, the director general of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), Dr Ntuli Kapologwe, said that nutrition data needs to be translated effectively for public understanding and action.
“There are currently 13 million children suffering from acute malnutrition in Eastern and Southern Africa, with nearly 4 million affected by Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), the most dangerous form of undernutrition,” he said.
Malnutrition and stunting rates in the region range between 30 and 40 percent, disproportionately affecting girls, many of whom also face anaemia-related health issues.
To address the crisis, ECSA-HC and the East and Southern Africa Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network (ESA SUN CSN) have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate nutrition and health progress across the region.
The agreement was signed at ECSA-HC headquarters in Arusha by Dr Kapologwe and ESA SUN CSN chairperson Mr Edgar Okoth Onyango. The partnership combines ECSA-HC’s policy influence with ESA SUN CSN’s advocacy network, which comprises more than 1,400 civil society organisations in 15 countries.
“Every $1 invested in nutrition yields a return of $23,” said Dr Kapologwe, underscoring the economic and social value of scaling up nutrition interventions. The partnership will focus on six key areas: policy advocacy, multisectoral programme coordination, implementation of Heinz Micronutrient Campaign resolutions, civil society engagement, community capacity-building, and joint resource mobilisation.
“This partnership solidifies our mutual commitment to aligning evidence, policy, and community voice,” Dr Kapologwe said.
Mr Onyango said nutrition should be central to regional development agendas, noting that the initiative supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
