National Nutrition Survey has released a date collected between 2010 and 2014 related to the chronic malnutrition among children under five years of age. The fact is worrisome as 35 percent are still to be taken care of.
However, the figure as slightly improved compared to last year as the data then revealed 42 percent.
UNICEF Representative to Tanzania, Dr Jama Gulaid, said undernutrition is one of the main causes for children in the country.
Malnutrition leads to blunting of the intelligence and also saps productivity. It perpetuates poverty too.
In 2011 the country was one of the important partners in Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN). It is a major global initiative to focus mainly on the nutrition investment in several poor countries.
President Jakaya Kikwete is one of the members of SUN Lead Group and played important role in the promotion of nutrition agenda in the country and also in other countries.
In Tanzania the chronic malnutrition has been restricting the children from their full potential. It has harmed the economic and social progress too.
A five-year National Nutrition Strategy was launched in 2011 by the government with plans and guides for the agencies, departments and local authorities to follow.
Last year the Ministry of Finance had also conducted Public Expenditure Review of nutrition sector as well as the Joint Multi-sectoral Review of Nutrition to study the progress of the five-year implementation plan.
Even though there were achievements, but still the malnutrition remains a challenge in the country. Over 2.7 million children below fives years of age are still stunted.
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