WHO raises alarm over stunted growth of African children
News & Trends •
additionally 14 million children suffered from wasting which the who office said is a strong predictor of mortality among children under five1 the world health organisation who has raised the alarm over stunted growth of no fewer than 59 million children in africa and another 10 million who are overweight1 under-nutrition occurs when people do not get enough to eat resulting in conditions such as wasting which is when a child becomes dangerously thin1 on the other hand people who are obese have body fat levels that may impair their health1 the who regional office for africa called these two issues the double burden of malnutrition1 together with diet-related non-communicable diseases ncds such as diabetes they are leading to catastrophic costs for citizens communities and national healthcare systems across the continent1 the health experts at a who meeting in nairobi therefore pressed for action to address the double burden of malnutrition in africa1 a 2016 study showed an estimated 59 million children in africa were stunted which is when a child is too short for their height another condition caused by under-nutrition1 the un health agency also warned that africas attempts to achieve health for all by 2030 could be threatened unless the continent address the twin challenges of under-nutrition and obesity1 meanwhile 10 million africans were overweight which is nearly double the number from 2000 who said1 the un agency noted the rising cases of malnutrition problem compared to a 2014 report which estimated that five per cent of men and 15 per cent of women over 18-years-old were obese1 dr felicitas zawaira director of the family and reproductive health cluster at the who regional office stressed the need for healthy diets among african children1 improving nutrition sustainably requires consideration of how to produce deliver and ensure access to healthy diets and essential nutrients not just greater quantities of food zawaira said1 in 2015 heads of state adopted the 17 sustainable development goals sdgs which seek to bring about a more just and equitable world for all people and the planet by 20301 sdg 3 which focuses on good health and well-being calls for achieving universal health coverage by this deadline among other targets1 tackling all forms of malnutrition for the achievement of universal health coverage and the health-related sdgs requires remedial actions from multiple sectors and on many fronts zawaira stated1 such measures include implementing policies and action to control the marketing and consumption of unhealthy foods or to promote consumption of healthy foods through taxation and subsidies. nan1