WINDHOEK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has launched a multi-sectoral initiative to strengthen its national response to malnutrition, with a focus on vulnerable regions such as Kunene, an official said on Friday.
In the latest cabinet statement, Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus said the government approved the creation of a national task team to coordinate efforts to reduce malnutrition rates, particularly among children.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over food insecurity and the effects of prolonged drought on vulnerable households, she said, adding that the cabinet directed several ministries and agencies to work with other government agencies and stakeholders to develop a strategy for the prevention, treatment, and control of severe acute malnutrition.
According to Theofelus, part of the government's response will focus on urgently improving immunization and nutrition services in the Kunene Region, where malnutrition rates remain high.
The newly formed task team is expected to lead interventions such as maternal nutrition support, livelihood programs, emergency food distribution, and the promotion of home gardening to improve dietary diversity, she added.
Namibia is facing its worst drought in over a century, resulting in significant food insecurity, with 6.2 percent of children under five suffering from acute malnutrition and 14.5 percent experiencing chronic malnutrition, according to the 2024 Global Hunger Index. ■
