Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: African leaders have pledged to redouble their efforts to combat malnutrition, aiming to save 80 million children from its devastating effects by 2025. This ambitious target comes amidst alarming statistics: 86 million children under five in Africa currently face various forms of malnutrition, with stunting affecting 63 million and wasting impacting 3 million.
The renewed commitment was announced at a high-level roundtable hosted by King Letsie III of Lesotho, the African Union’s Champion for Nutrition. The event, held on the sidelines of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, brought together heads of state, government officials, and development partners to discuss strategies for scaling up nutrition investments.
“Our commitment as leaders remains a pivotal pillar in driving policy and legislative actions to tackle malnutrition,” declared Lesotho’s Prime Minister Ntsokoane Sam Matekane. He urged member states to adopt stronger policies and increase financing to achieve the ambitious target of reducing malnutrition and stunting by 40% within the next year.
The urgency of action was echoed by the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina. “We have a duty and responsibility to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Africa by 40% by 2025,” he stated, emphasizing the need for strong political commitment to tackle the issue. He warned that inaction could lead to a further increase in the number of undernourished people, projected to reach 51.5% in Africa.
Several African leaders shared their experiences and commitments. Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde highlighted the Seqota Declaration, which aims to end stunting in children under two by 2030. Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, announced the creation of a dedicated budget line for nutrition, seeking support from multilateral agencies.
The African Union Commissioner for Health, Minata Samate Cessouma, emphasized the importance of political leadership and collaboration. “We call on all Member States to unite their efforts in the fight against malnutrition,” she urged.
The roundtable also highlighted the economic cost of malnutrition. Farayi Zimudzi, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Representative in Ethiopia, pointed out that every dollar invested in nutrition yields a return of 16 dollars.
Participants reviewed progress towards achieving nutrition targets set by various initiatives, including the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the Malabo Declaration, the World Health Assembly, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.