Poor households still facing challenge of access to nutritious food -WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) says access to adequate and nutritious food remains a challenge for poor households and low-income earners in Zambia.

WFP Country Representative Jennifer Bitonde says this reality is reflected in the high proportion of undernourished people and stunted children under the age of five years.

Speaking during the zero hunger strategic review meeting which coincides with World Food Day which is being observed today, under the theme “Our Actions are our Future A Zero Hunger World by 2030  is possible”, Ms Bitonde says this is a reminder that progress is far from levels required to achieve the sustainable development  goal number two target.

She says although Zambia has managed to reduce poverty from 79 percent in 1991 to 54 percent in 2015, the 2018 state of food security in the World report shows a modest improvement in stunting prevalence from 45 .8 percent in 2012 to 40 percent in 2017 and undernourished from 51.1 percent in 2004 to 44.5 in 2017.

She is worried that if this trend continues, the current trajectory will not support the achievement of zero hunger by 2030.

Ms. Bitonde has since called for renewed commitment and a redoubling of current efforts and a push for timely concrete actions to eliminate hunger in Zambia.

She says achieving zero hunger is an ambitious, but attainable goal.

Speaking at the same event, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Rowland Msiska says government recognises the urgent need to address the food and supply demands in the society if the country is to attain a Zero Hunger status.

Dr. Msiska says attaining a zero hunger is not an impossible task, but calls for inclusive strategies and interventions that will ensure no one is left behind in attaining the Vision 2030

He says government attaches great importance to efforts aimed at addressing some impediments that hinder the country from making progress in food and nutrition matters.