Interview: Stunting in Children Rises to 30% – Nutrition Experts Call for Urgent Action

The Ministry of Health, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, presented the results of the 2024 SMART survey last Friday, shedding light on the state of child nutrition across the country. The survey, conducted at the end of 2024, aimed to assess nutritional practices and measure the impact of malnutrition, particularly among children.

Director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia, Ben Schernick, described the findings as alarming. The survey revealed that stunting rates, a measure of chronic and irreversible malnutrition, have increased from 24% in 2012 to almost 30% in 2024. Stunting affects a child’s growth, cognitive abilities, mental capacities, and increases vulnerability to diseases later in life.

“This rise over the past 12 years is deeply concerning,” Schernick said. “It is a clear signal that more must be done to address malnutrition and ensure our children have the opportunity to develop fully.”

The Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia emphasizes the need for multi-faceted solutions. Schernick highlighted the importance of educating communities about healthy diets, improving local food production, and increasing access to nutritious food. He also advocated for economic measures such as a universal basic income grant to ensure that families can afford adequate nutrition amid high levels of poverty and inequality.

The full SMART survey report is available on the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia’s website, providing detailed insights into the current state of nutrition and the urgent interventions required to reverse this trend.