According to the National
Institute of Statistics, 33 percent of children under the age of 5 in Cameroon
suffer from malnutrition, 14 percent of them extremely malnourished.
These numbers are immense and need to be addressed in light of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for member states to halve the proportion of those suffering from hunger by 2015. The MDGs, however, should not be the only “incentive” to create change in Cameroon.
The Ministry of Public Health believes that malnutrition in Cameroon is closely tied to its climate, but for many, it is simply access to food that continues to make this percentage so high.
Infant malnutrition is especially high in the Far North and North Regions because of lack of food during the lean season (mid-June to end of August). In the same way, much of the food consumed is low in essential nutrients.
“Cameroon is known to be a food-sufficient country. This means that the country doesn’t need to import food as it produces enough to feed its population. Poverty is preventing the Cameroonian people from having access to a varied and balanced diet,” states Celine Essengue, Enfants Cameroun (IPS News).
A UNICEF estimate shows that roughly 58,000 children under the age of 5 are at risk of severe malnutrition and 145,000 children at the same age range will suffer
“Infant malnutrition is also due to the fact that very few infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months after birth,” states Dr. Sa’a, Director of health promotion in Ministry of Health (IPS News).
What we are facing is a healthcare issue, a poverty issue, and a lack of education. It is time to take a stand and make change.
Story thanks to IPS News, http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/07/
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