Oltheten also says that the community needs to be enlightened on food security in their homes if malnutrition is to be reduced in the region and other parts of the country. She adds that although people dont lack food in western Uganda, they are generally ignorant of the right food combinations.
Government is tasked to devise practical and decisive actions to address malnutrition among children in Uganda.
The challenge, from the United States Agency for International Development -USAID, follows a report showing that 45 percent of children under the age of five in Western Uganda are stunted. The report further classifies four out of every ten children in the region as critically stunted.
The report was published by the Rwenzori Centre for Research and Advocacy following a survey conducted across western Uganda. Jostas Mwebembezi, the lead researcher and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre says that malnutrition has led to a decline in the general performance of children in schools and an increase in the prevalence of preventable diseases.
//Cue in: “malnutrition is high…
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Jo Lesser Oltheten, the USAID Director for Economic Growth says the findings pose a challenge to government to come up with committed, proactive, and decisive actions which can mitigate the multiple threats of malnutrition in children.
//Cue in: “it is shocking…
Cue out: “…reach their potential.â€//
Oltheten also says that the community needs to be enlightened on food security in their homes if malnutrition is to be reduced in the region and other parts of the country. She adds that although people don't lack food in western Uganda, they are generally ignorant of the right food combinations.
She says that if nothing is done, children will see their physical and intellectual capacities diminished and in the worst case, they will die.
//Cue in: “many people growing…
Cue out: “…children grow and thrive.â€//
Chris Mugabe, the Kabarole district health educator says that in a bid to reduce on the levels of malnutrition, health centers are being encouraged to set up demonstration gardens and kitchens, from where to train mothers on how to grow and prepare nutritious and balanced food for their children.
He adds that selected nutrition stars mainly boy scouts and girl guides will be recruited to look for children who are malnourished in the community and refer them to health units so that they can get food and treatment.
Mugabe says that food security in homes can be improved if only district authorities enact ordinances, for households to grow nutritious food crops.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is the gravest single threat to global public health. The probability of children dying below the age of five in Uganda according to WHO is 128 per 1000 live births.
USAID estimates that Uganda loses over 310 million US Dollars in malnutrition related illness.
