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Tanzania recording steady progress against malnutrition
2007-10-03 08:42:05
By Prospector John
Malutrition, a disease mainly caused by lack of proper nutrition continues to be a growing problem in most developing countries such as Tanzania.
The condition occurs when a person`s body is not getting enough nutrients and may result from an inadequate or unbalanced diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems, or other medical conditions.
Malnutrition also occurs when adequate nutrients are consumed in the diet, but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly.
In some instances it may be mild enough to show no symptoms.
However, in some cases it may be so severe that the damage done is irreversible, even though the individual survives.
On a worldwide scale, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves.
Poverty, natural disasters, political problems, and war all contribute to conditions even epidemics of malnutrition and starvation, and not just in developing countries.
According to a recent Poverty and Human Development Report (PHDR),Tanzania has over the past few years recorded minimal improvements in the nutritional status for under fives in Tanzania .
Though on decline, the nutritional disease continues to affect a sizeable proportion of children in the country.
Official statistics indicate the fact that levels of malnutrition declined from 47 per cent in 1991/92 to 44 per cent in 1999 and 38 per cent in 2004.
During year 1991 and 1999 the number of underweight children increased from 29 per cent to 30 per cent, while wasting decreased from 7 per cent in 1991 to 5 per cent in 1999 and further declined to 3per cent in 2004.
Prevalence of malnutrition in the country has been attributed to the high levels of poverty in rural parts of the country where 87 per cent of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
Poverty has been one of the major causes of food insecurity that leads to malnutrition.
Apart from various efforts to redress the problem the levels of low income are still high in the country.
However, various efforts to mitigate the levels of poverty have been seen to bear fruit as official statistics indicate the fact that access to food has improved to a greater extent recording a decline of 15 percent by the year 2003.
According to the PHD report, Tanzania recorded slight decrease in the levels of poverty from 38.6 per cent in 1991/1992 to 35.6 per cent in 2000/2001.
Projection indicate a further decline to 29.5 in year 2005.
Johannes Hoogeveen, an official from the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, says that reducing malnutrition is important for the economic and social wellbeing of every country.
Elaborating further, he says, malnutrition affects the capacity to learn as children with an iodine deficiency have lower IQ.
Above all, malnourished children are less likely to go to school while some go at a later age.
`Another bad thing with malnutrition is that it leads to a vicious nutrition – poverty cycle. Good nutrition accelerates income and sound income improves nutrition,` said the health expert at the Hunger Free Campaign Dialogue held at Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam recently.
The health expert also hinted that malnutrition reduces economic growth, increases costs of health care, and reduces the effectiveness of spending in education, labour productivity while nutrition can be a driver of economic growth.
And commenting on the levels of mortality during the same function organised by Action Aid International Tanzania, Hoogeveen revealed that children of low weight at birth are up to eight times more likely to die from infectious disease and about 36 percent of all child deaths beyond early infancy are due to undernutition.
Ways to reduce infant mortality include distributing vitamin A twice a year, a sure way that can reduce infant mortality by as much as 23 percent.
Women of small stature are more likely to die as a consequence of child birth.
Malnutrition in Tanzania is still a cause for great concern as the rate of malnourished children stand at an alarming 38 per cent.
Having recognised the scale of the problem,Tanzania has instituted stringent policy measures aimed at mitigating the levels of under nourishment in the country.
These include mandatory provision of Vitamin A and deworming tablets.
Over 80 per cent of children under the age of 5 now receive vitamin A and deworming tablets twice a year and iodized salt has been made available.
At least 75 percent of all households use iodized salt.
The health expert also underscores the need for a proper and balanced diet, caring practices and a healthy environment matter most in particular.
Others include observance of pre-natal care, breastfeeding, feeding frequency, composition of diet, safe water and bed nets and must address micro-nutrient deficiencies that include Vitamin A and iodine and iron fortification.
Increased revenue from agriculture based activities act as a safety net in reducing levels of poverty and malnutrition in most rural parts of the country.
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