The African Union (AU) has decided to dedicate this year to nutrition, at the end of its 35th ordinary meeting of heads of state and government held last weekend in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
The common objective is to “strengthen nutritional resilience and food security on the African continent: strengthen agri-food systems, health and social protection systems for the acceleration of human, social and economic capital development”.
Côte d’Ivoire, which led the advocacy to include nutrition as the theme of the year 2022 of the African Union, particularly welcomed this choice which will “commit African States to strengthen, create and maintain an institutional environment , political and financial sustainability and conducive to nutrition and food security and to better coordinate national, regional and continental efforts,” underlines an official briefing note.
The text deplores that the scourge of malnutrition is still a threat in the continent, noting that one in five Africans is malnourished. In children, this malnutrition has harmful consequences on their physical, mental, cognitive and physiological development.
Due to its negative effects on the development of human capital, malnutrition accentuates the delays recorded in the framework of economic and social development. “Child undernutrition could cause our countries to lose 1.9% to 16.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP)”, warns Abidjan, adding that “this human cost must challenge us and encourage us to action”.
The document also argues that improving nutrition requires systemic change, including healthy and sustainable food systems, resilient and strong health systems, inclusive water and sanitation systems, and effective education/literacy and social protection.
By OMA Newsletter N° 588 of 08/02/2022 The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation For the development of cultural exchanges Valuing human potential The promotion and consolidation of inter-African integration
