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The Need for Food The Need for Food andand Nutrition Security in AfricaNutrition Security in Africa

byby

Louise SserunjogiLouise SserunjogiMember Board of Directors, GAINMember Board of Directors, GAIN

at the at the 2005 World Food Prize International Symposium2005 World Food Prize International Symposium

Des Moines, IOWA; 12-14 October 2005Des Moines, IOWA; 12-14 October 2005

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IntroductionIntroduction

• Food and Nutrition security are at the Food and Nutrition security are at the center of survival and development.center of survival and development.

• Food and Nutrition security are key Food and Nutrition security are key elements in almost ALL the 8 elements in almost ALL the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• AfricaAfrica is challenged to utilize new is challenged to utilize new technologies, opportunities, and global technologies, opportunities, and global commitment to address the problemcommitment to address the problem

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FAO Estimates:FAO Estimates:• 852 Million people world wide were 852 Million people world wide were

undernourished in 2000-2002undernourished in 2000-2002– 815 million in developing countries.815 million in developing countries.– Highest proportion in S. Asia and Sub-Saharan Highest proportion in S. Asia and Sub-Saharan

AfricaAfrica

• As of March 2005; food shortage in 36 As of March 2005; food shortage in 36 countriescountries..

– 23 in Africa23 in Africa– 7 in Asia/near East7 in Asia/near East– 5 Latin America5 Latin America– 1 in Europe1 in Europe

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Percent changePercent change++ in underweight in underweight in preschool children during the in preschool children during the

1990s1990s

2

-21

-38

-17

-10-14

0.1

18

-20

-33

10

-61

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

% All Northern Eastern Western

Africa South SouthAll Central East

Asia

Central SouthAll Amer Carib Amer

LAC

All Developing Countries

Goal

+ [(x00 – x90)/x90]100(ACC/SCN, 2000)

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Magnitude of Malnutrition in Magnitude of Malnutrition in AfricaAfrica due to food and nutrition due to food and nutrition insecurityinsecurity

Source: UNICEF & MI, 2004.

Estimated percentage ofchildren under 6 with sub-clinical Vitamin A deficiency

Vitamin A deficiencyin children

30 - 45

less than 30

no data

more than 45more than 25

no data

less than 15

15 - 25

Total Goiter Ratein school age children

Percent of children withany grade of goitre detectedby palpitation

Source: UNICEF & MI, 2004.

Source: UNICEF & MI, 2004.

Estimated prevalence inwomen age 15 to 49 years,percent

Iron deficiency anemiain women

35 - 50

less than 35

no data

more than 50

Iron deficiency Iron deficiency in womenin women

Low Low energy energy supplysupply

Vit A Vit A Deficiency Deficiency in childrenin children

Total Goiter Total Goiter rate in school rate in school childrenchildren

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Main Causes of Childhood Main Causes of Childhood Mortality in AfricaMortality in Africa

Malaria8%

Others29%

HIV4%

Measles5%

ARI20%

Diarrhoea13%

Perinatal 22%

Malnutrition = 54%

Malnutrition is the single underlying cause of child mortality!

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Why these trends?Why these trends?• Eroded capacities at all levels, Eroded capacities at all levels,

caused by:caused by:

– Declining social sector Declining social sector performance performance

– PovertyPoverty

– HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

– Conflicts/emergencies Conflicts/emergencies

– Natural disastersNatural disasters

– Climate changes Climate changes

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TypicalTypical AfricanAfrican DietDiet

Dairy17%

Fruit2%

Vegetables9%

Sweets7%

Other6%

Meat/legumes

9%

Grains/tubers

50%

Composition of Diet of Children

Source:Huss-Ashmoreand Curry 1991

Low intake of Low intake of micronutrient rich micronutrient rich foods!foods!

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Median vitamin A and iron intake of Median vitamin A and iron intake of

poorest children (lowest 20%)poorest children (lowest 20%)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

1 to 3 year

7 to 9 years

Vitamin A

1 to 3 year

7 to 9 years

Iron

RDA

Rural

Urban

RSA

KEY OUTCOMES: NATIONAL FOOD CONSUMPTION SURVEY (1999)

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Two billion people suffer Two billion people suffer key micronutrient key micronutrient

deficienciesdeficiencies• Iodine deficiencyIodine deficiency in pregnancy - most common cause of in pregnancy - most common cause of

preventable mental retardation and brain damage - preventable mental retardation and brain damage - 10-15% 10-15% lowering of average intellectual capacity.lowering of average intellectual capacity.

• Vitamin A deficiencyVitamin A deficiency - affects 40-60% of children under-five in - affects 40-60% of children under-five in developing world, compromising immune systems, causing developing world, compromising immune systems, causing a a million deaths a year.million deaths a year.

• Iron deficiencyIron deficiency - most widespread health problem, impairing - most widespread health problem, impairing normal mental development in 40-60% of infants in the normal mental development in 40-60% of infants in the developing world, debilitating the health and energies of 500 developing world, debilitating the health and energies of 500 million women, leading to more than 60,000 deaths during million women, leading to more than 60,000 deaths during childbirth a year. childbirth a year. Lost productivity of up to 2% of GDP.Lost productivity of up to 2% of GDP.

• Folate deficiencyFolate deficiency - responsible for 200,000 severe birth defects - responsible for 200,000 severe birth defects a year in a year in developing countries. developing countries.

• Zinc deficiencyZinc deficiency affecting growth and survival of children. affecting growth and survival of children.

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Vitamin A DeficiencyVitamin A Deficiency

• Vitamin A Vitamin A deficiency - deficiency - affects 40-60% of affects 40-60% of children under-children under-five in developing five in developing world, world, compromising compromising immune systems, immune systems, causing causing a million a million preventablepreventable deaths a year.deaths a year.In Mali with 47% children affected, it is

projected; over 170,000 child deaths will be attributable to Vitamin A deficiency between the years 1999 and 2007

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Effects of Iron DeficiencyEffects of Iron Deficiency• Women risk death Women risk death

in childbirthin childbirth

• Infants often have Infants often have low birth weightlow birth weight

• Children are at Children are at greater risk of greater risk of severe severe infections and infections and deathdeath

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Maternal Deaths

Jorg

e M

orei

ro

Profiles KenyaProjected for KenyaProjected for Kenya 2000- 2000-1010

48,00 maternal deaths 48,00 maternal deaths due to anaemia!due to anaemia!

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And Iron Deficiency also And Iron Deficiency also hashas Invisible EffectsInvisible Effects

• Children may be less Children may be less intelligent, scoring intelligent, scoring up to 10 points lower up to 10 points lower on standard tests on standard tests (intelligence quotient (intelligence quotient or I.Q)or I.Q)

• Their school Their school performance is below performance is below their potentialtheir potential

• Their future Their future productivity is productivity is diminisheddiminished

• These effects are These effects are long long lasting and lasting and potentially potentially irreversibleirreversible

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Adult Productivity isAdult Productivity is CompromisedCompromised

• Resulting in losses of about 1.1 % of GDP in many African countries

If current rates of malnutrition

Remain: • Ghana is doomed to lose a total Ghana is doomed to lose a total

of over of over 550 Million dollars550 Million dollars, , worth of net productivity from worth of net productivity from iron deficiency anaemia, iodine iron deficiency anaemia, iodine deficiency and stunting.deficiency and stunting.

• Almost the same amount (i.e. Almost the same amount (i.e. 500 Million dollars) will be lost in 500 Million dollars) will be lost in Mali.Mali.

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UN

ICE

F/9

5-0

06

5 S

ha

did

Iodine Deficiency and Iodine Deficiency and Survival Survival ( e.g. Uganda TGR=15)( e.g. Uganda TGR=15)

65,000 children will be born as

cretins

Another 194,000 will be born with severe mental retardation

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Iodine Deficiency and Iodine Deficiency and EducationEducation

• Learning abilityLearning ability

• School performanceSchool performance

• Retention ratesRetention rates

• Speech & hearing Speech & hearing defectsdefects

UN

ICE

F/C

-56

-19

/Mu

rra

y-L

ee

Permanent

Permanent

!!

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Folic Acid can Prevent Folic Acid can Prevent Birth DefectsBirth Defects

• 200.000 children 200.000 children are born each are born each year world-wide year world-wide with severe with severe neural tube neural tube defects such as defects such as spina bifidaspina bifida or or anencephalyanencephaly

In 2002 Uganda reported 2 In 2002 Uganda reported 2 per 1000 births with spina per 1000 births with spina bifida; 4/5 of these bifida; 4/5 of these developing hydrocephalusdeveloping hydrocephalus

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Malnutrition’s effect on:Malnutrition’s effect on:

Health and SurvivalHealth and Survival

Educability Educability

Economic ProductivityEconomic Productivity

DisabilityDisability

Health and SurvivalHealth and Survival

Educability Educability

Economic ProductivityEconomic Productivity

DisabilityDisabilityIrr

iversible

Irriversi

ble

BUT BUT

Preventa

ble!

Preventa

ble!

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Food and Nutrition Food and Nutrition insecurity:insecurity:• Is an aspect of many factors occurring Is an aspect of many factors occurring

at different levels. These include:at different levels. These include:– PovertyPoverty– Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources– and violation of human rights.and violation of human rights.

• Improvement will be complemented Improvement will be complemented byby– increased food consumption; dietary increased food consumption; dietary

diversity; food fortification; better access diversity; food fortification; better access to safe water and sanitation; access to a to safe water and sanitation; access to a broader range of health services and broader range of health services and care; with opportunities for positive care; with opportunities for positive behavioral change.behavioral change.

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Human, Economic, Institutional Resources and

Political Will

Improved Food and Nutrition Security

Health Diet

Household Food Security

Care of Mother and Child

Environ. Health,Hygiene & Sanitation

Health, Survival and productivity

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‘‘Window’ of Window’ of OpportunitiesOpportunities • Success story of salt iodizationSuccess story of salt iodization

– For > 75% of population in Africa . For > 75% of population in Africa .

• New technologies to improve quality of New technologies to improve quality of food/dietfood/diet

• Renewed global commitment to address Renewed global commitment to address problemproblem– The World Food SummitThe World Food Summit– Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development Goals

• Growing partnership building for supportGrowing partnership building for support– NEPADNEPAD - Regional Economic Initiatives- Regional Economic Initiatives– GAINGAIN

• Growing support for capacity building and Growing support for capacity building and skills development in area of food and skills development in area of food and nutrition security in Africanutrition security in Africa

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Africa’s Future is Africa’s Future is ChallengedChallenged

• Almost over 1/3 of Almost over 1/3 of children in Africa are children in Africa are affected with affected with micronutrient micronutrient deficienciesdeficiencies

• The situation is The situation is unacceptable!unacceptable!

• Technology to improve diet Technology to improve diet quality with essential quality with essential nutrients through nutrients through fortification is fortification is available available and affordableand affordable

forfor

Food Food and and Nutrition Nutrition Security are Security are essential for essential for Survival and Survival and DevelopmentDevelopment

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Thank YouThank You