Education is the key to reducing malnutrition in children under five, Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete said Thursday while launching a national campaign to promote a balanced diet.
Tanzania has three million malnourished children, he said, mainly because of poor eating habits and lack of knowledge of the kind of food children need. Ironically, most of the children live in rural areas where there is ample food.
The campaign named “Good Nutrition is the Foundation of the Country Economic Development: Play Your Part”, will be driven by a campaign that also aims at encouraging firms in the food business to add vitamins and other nutrients to their products.
Said the President: “Lack of awareness on nutrition at the family level, accompanied by poor beliefs, is a problem because people have food but they do not know how to plan their meals. Education is the most important thing they need, especially in rural areas where they have access to a wide variety of foods compared to urban dwellers–who have to purchase food.”
Experts who spoke with The Citizen this week also cited inadequate breastfeeding, poor medical facilities and poverty as other factors that contribute to malnutrition.
The launch of the campaign yesterday comes amidst rising concerns by both the government and nutrition experts about the rising levels of the condition.
The national nutrition coordinator at World Vision, Ms Debora Niyeha, said this week that about half of Tanzania’s workforce will suffer a mental crisis in the next 20 years due to stunting that affects the body and brain.
TheCitizen
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