Ethiopia Gets Really Serious About Feeding Children

Feeding Children

The Ministry of Health and stakeholders from various ministries Thursday launched a 1.14 billion USD nutrition programme running 2016 -2020.

The Second National Nutrition Programme aims at providing a framework for coordinated and integrated implementation of nutrition interventions by the government and pertinent stakeholders to end hunger by 2030.

Keeping food and nutrition quality, safety and security as well as setting post-harvest management system are also the priorities of the programme.

The program was signed by Health, Industry, Labor and Social Affairs, Women and Youth, State Ministers Dr. Kebede Worku, Dr. Mebrhatu Meles, Tadelech Dalecho, and Bizunesh Meseret respectively.

During the presentation, which preceded the signing ceremony, it was indicated that Ethiopia lost about 55.5 billon Birr, equivalent to 16.5 percent of the country's GDP in 2009.

Ministry Nutrition Program Coordinator Birara Melese said the government implemented the First National Programme 2008-2015 realizing the problem.

Over 515 million USD is allocated for the Second National Nutrition Programme to address the underlying determinants of malnutrition, he added.Of this, donor groups have contributed over 198 million USD, it was indicated. 

According to the coordinator, the country has managed to reduce under five stunting rate from 50 percent in 2000 to 38.4 percent in 2016.

Mortality rate was also reduced from 166 per 1,000 cases to 67 per 1,000 in the stated period.