Vice President Inonge Wina arrives in Lesotho to discuss nutrition and early childhood policies

VICE President Hon. Inonge Wina has arrived in Maseru, Lesotho to attend to high level meeting nutrition and early childhood education.The event is being held with support from the World Bank and UNICEF, and has attracted leaders, Ministers and experts from sectors of Education, Health, Community Development and nutrition.Despite recent progress, stunting rates in Southern Africa remain high, especially compared to other countries with similar income levels.About 30% of children under five in the region—including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini, Zimbabwe and Zambia—are stunted, caused by chronic under nutrition.The meeting is expected to help shape various policies to help foster proper nutrition and to help reduce poverty and inequality and make early childhood nutrition a national priority.The sub-optimal development of these children has wide-ranging, long-lasting negative impacts.Being malnourished in early childhood elevates the risks of morbidity and mortality, increases costs of and returns to social sector investments, and decreases lifelong income-earning potential and productivity.It results in a downward cycle of poverty, ill health and poor nutrition across generations.Hosted by the Government of Lesotho, with support from the World Bank and UNICEF, the high-level forum on October 3 aims to highlight this commitment and catalyze further action to improve early childhood nutrition outcomes.Senior government representatives, together with partner organizations, will exchange experiences and seek commitment to improve outcomes for their countries’ children.Hon. Inonge Wina was received by Lesotho Minister of Gender and Youth, Dr. Mahali Phamotse, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba, and Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa. Post Views: 152