The other side of Jakaya Kikwete

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Kikwete:After joining the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in 2011, I took nutrition very seriously. But the first encounter that I recall on nutrition-related issues was when I was the Minister of Energy and Minerals. It was the first time when I learnt about iodine deficiency. A chap called Dr Ashraf came to my office one fine day and said, ‘minister, I want to come home.’ I asked, ‘which home, my home?’ He replied, ‘Yes, your home. I want me and you to sit down and watch a video.’ I thought to myself, this is the first time I see this man, I don’t know him and in our first meeting he self-invites home. I told him to give me time, so that I could do a little background check on him. That’s when I found out, he is good man who is a little concerned about nutrition and works with the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF. After a few repeated requests by him, I told him to come over and I made sure it is just he and I in the room as I wasn’t sure what was in that video. [laughs]

The other side of Jakaya Kikwete

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