The Nutritional Situation in the African Region: Challenges and Perspectives Round Table 1
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WHO. Regional Office for Africa
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Regional Committee for Africa Fifty-fourth SessionBrazzaville, Republic of Congo, 30 August–3 September 2004, Provisional agenda item 13
1. According to the 2004 world nutrition situation report,1 Africa is the only continent that isunlikely to reach the millennium development goal2 of halving the current level of undernutritionin children under 5 years of age by 2015 unless concerted efforts are made to redressthe situation. The continued deterioration in nutrition in the African Region is unacceptable and acause for concern.2. In the 1980s, many countries in the African Region made steady progress in reducing levelsof protein energy malnutrition. According to the United Nations Standing Committee onNutrition,3 the primary health care (PHC) strategy and large-scale community-based nutritionprogrammes were primarily responsible for progress in nutrition during the 1980s. This progresswas made despite the absence of economic growth. However, the situation began to deterioratefrom the early 1990s. This is attributed to factors such as economic decline; subsequentreduction in investments in the health sector; recurrent droughts, wars and civil strife thatdisplaced many communities; and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.3. In an effort to stem the decline in food security and nutrition, there were several global andregional initiatives to guide and mobilize countries. These include the World Summit forChildren (1990) that set goals for child survival; the International Conference on Nutrition(1992) which provided a framework and strategy for national nutrition programmes; and theWorld Food Summit (1996) that set goals for reducing food insecurity. Unfortunately manycountries did not have the technical and financial resources to implement the recommendations.At the regional level, the Organisation of African Union adopted a nutrition strategy for Africa in1992.
1. According to the 2004 world nutrition situation report,1 Africa is the only continent that isunlikely to reach the millennium development goal2 of halving the current level of undernutritionin children under 5 years of age by 2015 unless concerted efforts are made to redressthe situation. The continued deterioration in nutrition in the African Region is unacceptable and acause for concern.2. In the 1980s, many countries in the African Region made steady progress in reducing levelsof protein energy malnutrition. According to the United Nations Standing Committee onNutrition,3 the primary health care (PHC) strategy and large-scale community-based nutritionprogrammes were primarily responsible for progress in nutrition during the 1980s. This progresswas made despite the absence of economic growth. However, the situation began to deterioratefrom the early 1990s. This is attributed to factors such as economic decline; subsequentreduction in investments in the health sector; recurrent droughts, wars and civil strife thatdisplaced many communities; and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.3. In an effort to stem the decline in food security and nutrition, there were several global andregional initiatives to guide and mobilize countries. These include the World Summit forChildren (1990) that set goals for child survival; the International Conference on Nutrition(1992) which provided a framework and strategy for national nutrition programmes; and theWorld Food Summit (1996) that set goals for reducing food insecurity. Unfortunately manycountries did not have the technical and financial resources to implement the recommendations.At the regional level, the Organisation of African Union adopted a nutrition strategy for Africa in1992.