Friday, March 29, 2024

Presidential candidates must make smart commitments to end malnutrition

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Scaling up Nutrition Civil Society Network Manager Claire Blanchard speaking in an interview
FILE: Scaling up Nutrition Civil Society Network Manager Claire Blanchard speaking in an interview

The UK based Global Scaling up Nutrition Civil Society Network says presidential candidates in next week’s general elections must make commitments on how they will take malnutrition in Zambia.

Zambia has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world with around 40 percent of children under the age of five stunted.

Network Coordinator Dr Claire Blanchard said the general elections present a good opportunity for all presidential candidates to clearly state how they will address the problem of malnutrition in the country.

Dr Blanchard said says there is need for all presidential candidates to make measurable and realistic and achievable commitments towards nutrition development which they can account for.

He said nutrition is key in realising economic development and school attainment hence the need for politicians to state how they will address the issue.

“This is a very opportune moment as we build up to the elections and specifically to continue building commitments and ensuring that those commitments are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and trackable and that we can all account for those commitments at all levels,” Dr Blanchard said.

She added, “It would be good to have all presidential candidates include in their manifestos some of those smart commitments to really ensure that we have a clear vision and an action plan for nutrition in the country.”

Dr Blanchard also observed that the civil society can be extremely helpful in helping to account and track progress on those commitments.

“Civil society is key in making those commitments happen with having a huge presence on the ground and reaching the communities and ensuring direct participation from a household level.”

And Zambia Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition Alliance Acting National Coordinator Eneya Phiri said malnutrition still remains is a huge problem in Zambia.

“With only two weeks to go to the elections, this is definitely a reminder to all our candidates that the nutrition community globally is looking with keen interest on Zambia and looking particularly at the candidates and what promises and commitments they are making towards the nutrition agenda,” Mr Phiri said.

“We are talking about stunting at 40 percent in children under the age of five which has severe health implications on the nation and also have a high cost in managing preventable diseases that are exacerbated as a result of malnutrition.”

He added, “So this is a wakeup call and as well as a reminder but more so a reminder to all political parties who made commitments on nutrition even those that who haven’t, it is never too late, it’s time to make smart commitment towards nutrition, smart commitments on which they can be voted for and held accountable going forward.”

5 COMMENTS

  1. Most zambians look stunted but nothing to do malnutrition. Take for example bakalubale nabena ngumbo. We know that these are just schemes to weaken our govt so that they legalize gmo food stuffs on the market.

    • ba nostradamus muli chiwelewele. I have no words for people like you. ni chimo kwati eddie murphy, michael jordan, and most black celebrities. Lost and filled with self hate.

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