|
Feeding school children is vital
2006-09-16 09:38:29
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz
Over 700,000 people in over 100 countries across 24 time zones around the world walked five kilometres recently to drum up support to the war against child hunger dubbed ’Fight Hunger: Walk the World’ organised by the World Food Programme (WFP).
The number included children throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Some 100,000 children walked in sub-Saharan Africa alone, most of whom are beneficiaries of the WFP’s School Feeding Programme.
By walking, the children joined the growing chorus of voices across every demographic and every region of the world in saying that it was unacceptable that 300 million children are chronically hungry.
On its part, the government of Tanzania plans to introduce school feeding programmes all over the country.
The Prime Minister Edward Lowassa made the revelations after flagging off the WFP charity walk against child hunger in Marangu, Kilimanjaro Region.
Under the programme, Lowassa said, the government would ensure that every school-going child gets a single meal daily to improve enrolment, retention and participation in education.
’’We are determined to work on the matter, but we need patience because we as a government have just started. We need more time, but I would like to assure you that the plan will be implemented in the spirit of new zeal, vigour and speed,’’he said.
The premier said he would see to it that the school feeding programmes go hand in hand with feeding people living with HIV/Aids, who need adequate and proper food as part of the treatment.
’’Supplying patients with anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) without giving them food is not enough.
Therefore, while working hard to feed school children, we should join efforts in contributing food for people living with HIV/Aids,’’ he said.
In his message on the occasion, WFP’s Ambassador Reginald Mengi said education and nutrition for children were some of the most important investments for the future generation and the country.
WFP Representative and Country Director Patrick Buckley read the statement on behalf of Mengi.
’’Helping children is a noble cause. To me, helping children to get one nutritious meal per day at school is a great privilege,’’ said Mengi.
He added that one nutritious meal per day at school may appear a negligible thing, ’’but the joy it brings and the difference it makes to the future of the poor child are immeasurable.’’
’’I believe in God and I also believe that when we help children to get food so that they can attend school and concentrate on their studies, we are doing God’s work. By helping children, we are thanking God for giving us the opportunity to do his work.’’
In his remarks, Buckley said the event raised more than US$ 1 million globally last year and he hoped this year’s target of US$ 2.5 million would be met.
’’Our key message today is feeding the hungry and the minds,’’ he stressed.
Giving the background of the worldwide event, WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu said the walk is sponsored by WFP in collaboration with its partners to mobilise people worldwide to walk on May 21 against child hunger.
Sisulu, who had travelled from her base in Rome, Italy, said WFP sponsored walks in seven locations in Tanzania with the main ones being in the administrative capital Dodoma, commercial capital Dar es Salaam and Marangu at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro.
At Marangu, hundreds of walkers led by Lowassa and Sisulu participated in a five-kilometre walk from Marangu Teachers’ College to Lyasongora village.
Sisulu said more than 700,000 people in over 100 countries across 24 time zones walked five kilometres to drum up support to the war against child hunger.
The number, she said, included children throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Some 100,000 children walked in sub-Saharan Africa alone, most of who are beneficiaries of WFP’s School Feeding Programme.
By walking, she said, children joined the growing chorus of voices across every demographic and every region of the world in saying that it was unacceptable that 300 million children are chronically hungry.
A unique feature of Walk the World Tanzania was the 16-20 May expedition by 16 people (including four students from a primary school in Arusha District where WFP provides meals) to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Led by Tanzania’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Corporal Samson Ramadhani, the Kilimanjaro expedition was meant to raise awareness in Tanzania and around the world of the correlation between nutrition and education.
Lowassa awarded certificates of participation to Ramadhani and his group, at the end of the expedition.
The Walk the World campaign also took place in Kigoma, Kasulu, Kibondo, Ngara and Isaka, where WFP has centres and sub-offices to implement the school feeding programmes under which WFP feeds over 190,000 schoolchildren.
|
