Malnutrition- Karamoja hit hard as hunger rages
Feb 15, 2009
MOTIONLESS, he lay on his mother’s lap. He looked severely emaciated. When he was taken to the therapeutic feeding centre, the 20-month-old, weighed only 5.2kg.
By Arthur Baguma
MOTIONLESS, he lay on his mother’s lap. He looked severely emaciated. When he was taken to the therapeutic feeding centre, the 20-month-old, weighed only 5.2kg.
Baby Enyaku, who can barely lift his head without support, became severely malnourished when drought hit Kotido district, preventing his family from growing food.
A native of Kaceri village, Kotido, Enyaku is one of the many children who have had to bear the brunt of malnutrition. He is very weak, unable to chew and swallow food.
Karamoja remains one of the areas which have been greatly hit by acute malnutrition. A 2007 UNICEF situation analysis report put malnutrition prevalence rate in Moroto at 17.9%, while Kotido and Nakapiripit stand at 8.1% and 10.4%, respectively.
Severe malnutrition prevalence was estimated at 3.2% over all in Karamoja region. This is far below the acceptable limit of 15.0% by the World Health Organisation.
Like Enyaku, many children in sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from malnutrition — a trend that might prevent many countries from meeting their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target.
Although the 2007 MDG report shows a slight fall in the proportion of people living in poverty, transformation still eludes most countries in the developing world, Uganda inclusive.
Raising public awareness about the current nutrition issues remains a big challenge in the developing world. This is what scientists and policy-makers will grapple with at a two-day conference from February 19 to 20 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Speke Resort Hotel.
Under the theme ‘Challenges, successes and opportunities to improve nutrition’, the conference will focus on raising awareness about current nutrition issues.
According to Jolly Gonahasa, one of the organisers, the meet will provide a forum for scientists, policy-makers, programme implementers and the donor community to share information and experiences.
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, will be the chief guest at the event which will draw participants from over 20 countries across the globe.
“It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to present relevant research findings, experiences, lessons learned and key recommendations for future action to improve nutrition in Uganda and the region,†Gonahasa said.
Other key issues to be discussed include child nutrition, HIV/AIDS and nutrition challenges vis-a-vis the rising food prices. Action for Nutrition Society is organising the event.
As stipulated in the MDGs, nutrition has been one of the major factors that affects the quality of life, overall performance and productivity of a population. However, it has not been given the attention it deserves.
According to the millennium development report (2007), the greatest proportions of children going hungry are found in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda.
“Poor progress in these regions means it is unlikely that the global target will be met. The report says if the current trends continue, the world will miss the 2015 target by 30 million children, essentially robbing them of their full potential.
The first goal of the MDGs is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. The target is to halve between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Worldwide the number of people in developing countries living on less than $1a day fell to 980m in2004 down from 1.2b in 1990.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from 46.8% in 1990 to 41.1% in 2004. Although child hunger is declining in all regions, meeting the target will require accelerated progress.
The greatest proportion of children going hungry continues to be found in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. “Poor progress in these regions means that it is unlikely that the global target will be met.
According to the UNICEF situational report, although malnutrition rates have declined over the last 20 years, acute malnutrition is an important underlying contributor to childhood mortality in the developing world.
Highlights of the conference
The Congress will have parallel symposia focusing on five sub-themes:
Food and nutrition assessment.
Rising food prices, livelihoods and nutritional well-being.
Nutrition and HIV.
Maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding.
Micronutrient deficiencies.
MOTIONLESS, he lay on his mother’s lap. He looked severely emaciated. When he was taken to the therapeutic feeding centre, the 20-month-old, weighed only 5.2kg.
Baby Enyaku, who can barely lift his head without support, became severely malnourished when drought hit Kotido district, preventing his family from growing food.
A native of Kaceri village, Kotido, Enyaku is one of the many children who have had to bear the brunt of malnutrition. He is very weak, unable to chew and swallow food.
Karamoja remains one of the areas which have been greatly hit by acute malnutrition. A 2007 UNICEF situation analysis report put malnutrition prevalence rate in Moroto at 17.9%, while Kotido and Nakapiripit stand at 8.1% and 10.4%, respectively.
Severe malnutrition prevalence was estimated at 3.2% over all in Karamoja region. This is far below the acceptable limit of 15.0% by the World Health Organisation.
Like Enyaku, many children in sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from malnutrition — a trend that might prevent many countries from meeting their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target.
Although the 2007 MDG report shows a slight fall in the proportion of people living in poverty, transformation still eludes most countries in the developing world, Uganda inclusive.
Raising public awareness about the current nutrition issues remains a big challenge in the developing world. This is what scientists and policy-makers will grapple with at a two-day conference from February 19 to 20 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Speke Resort Hotel.
Under the theme ‘Challenges, successes and opportunities to improve nutrition’, the conference will focus on raising awareness about current nutrition issues.
According to Jolly Gonahasa, one of the organisers, the meet will provide a forum for scientists, policy-makers, programme implementers and the donor community to share information and experiences.
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, will be the chief guest at the event which will draw participants from over 20 countries across the globe.
“It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to present relevant research findings, experiences, lessons learned and key recommendations for future action to improve nutrition in Uganda and the region,†Gonahasa said.
Other key issues to be discussed include child nutrition, HIV/AIDS and nutrition challenges vis-a-vis the rising food prices. Action for Nutrition Society is organising the event.
As stipulated in the MDGs, nutrition has been one of the major factors that affects the quality of life, overall performance and productivity of a population. However, it has not been given the attention it deserves.
According to the millennium development report (2007), the greatest proportions of children going hungry are found in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda.
“Poor progress in these regions means it is unlikely that the global target will be met. The report says if the current trends continue, the world will miss the 2015 target by 30 million children, essentially robbing them of their full potential.
The first goal of the MDGs is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. The target is to halve between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Worldwide the number of people in developing countries living on less than $1a day fell to 980m in2004 down from 1.2b in 1990.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from 46.8% in 1990 to 41.1% in 2004. Although child hunger is declining in all regions, meeting the target will require accelerated progress.
The greatest proportion of children going hungry continues to be found in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. “Poor progress in these regions means that it is unlikely that the global target will be met.
According to the UNICEF situational report, although malnutrition rates have declined over the last 20 years, acute malnutrition is an important underlying contributor to childhood mortality in the developing world.
Highlights of the conference
The Congress will have parallel symposia focusing on five sub-themes:
Food and nutrition assessment.
Rising food prices, livelihoods and nutritional well-being.
Nutrition and HIV.
Maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding.
Micronutrient deficiencies.