business

Feb. 19, 2020

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

Nutrition team sensitised on national food and nutrition security

Nutrition team sensitised on national food and nutrition security

Metro Audio Articles

Catch our weekly audio news daily only on Metro Radio Podcast News.

listen now

MOKHOTLONG - It is significant for stakeholders in food and nutrition issues to understand the national food and nutrition strategy, advocacy and social behaviour change communication strategy for effective implementation at community level.

This was said by the Food and Nutrition Coordinating Office (FNCO) Director Dr. 'Masekonyela Sebotsa when briefing the Mokhotlong nutrition team about the mandate of her Office and the national strategy at a two day workshop held in the district from Monday.

The workshop was intended to sensitise the stakeholders about the strategy in an effort to increase understanding and ownership regarding issues of food and nutrition.

Dr. Sebotsa therefore urged the district stakeholders to increase their collaboration on food and nutrition which calls for a multi sectoral approach to address challenges such as malnutrition, stunting and others facing the country.

Giving an overview of the strategy, Mrs. 'Matseleng Mojakhomo still from FNCO Headquarters said a lot still has to be done to ensure that the strategy is implemented successfully by achieving the nutritional goals while on the other hand saving money that the country loses to address malnutrition in children under five years.

Enjoy our daily newsletter from today

Access exclusive newsletters, along with previews of new media releases.

She said according to the cost of hunger study of 2016 coordinated by FNCO, the country loses around M1.9 billion annually due to malnutrition adding that studies show that one in three children is malnourished.

Mrs. Mojakhomo the strategy also aims to address stunting which is reported to be high across all districts as they rate above the World Health Organisation (WHO) threshold of 30 percent. She mentioned that Mokhotlong has the highest rate of stunting at 47.7 percent.

The workshop is being attended by members of the district nutrition team which is made up of employees from public and private departments in Mokhotlong. It ends on Tuesday and a similar one will take place in Thaba Tseka from Wednesday this week.

The national food and nutrition, advocacy and social behaviour change communication strategy has been developed by FNCO and the Prime Minister's Office while it has been financially supported by the World Food Programme.

It has been developed to support King Letsie III as the Nutrition Champion of the African Union and the FAO Special Ambassador on nutrition as well as the World Bank's Human Capital Champion.

LeNA

Share the story

METRO WEATHER FORECAST