Somalia: nutrition in progress

A street in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Photo: AU-UN / Stuart Price

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2 min

This is a first for 11 years in Somalia. The government, supported by Unicef ​​and other international partners, has conducted a nationwide study on micronutrients, these vitamins, minerals, trace elements which are essential for the development of the body, but which the organism cannot synthesize. They are therefore almost exclusively provided by food.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Sébastien Németh

For eight months thousands of women and children were interviewed in all regions of the country, as well as among the displaced. Everyone described their eating habits, before giving biological samples for analysis.

The results obviously paint an alarming picture of the situation, given the country's instability and poverty. 17% of children are chronically malnourished. More than 40% of women and children are anemic, more than 26% have iron deficiency, 34% of children have vitamin A deficiency, 11% in women. However, these statistics show real progress compared to 2009. We observe a better quality of nutrition, and a practice of breastfeeding on the rise.

In fact, following the last study, humanitarian workers and governments have strengthened their awareness programs as well as the distribution and facilitation of access to micronutrients for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as those under 5 years old.

“  This is invaluable data  ,” says Werner Schultink. According to the UNICEF representative in Somalia, the study provides very valuable figures for future nutritional policies and humanitarian operations of tomorrow. "  This will pave the way for the long term and for effective strategies  ", explains Werner Schultink.

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  • Somalia
  • Food
  • Health and medicine

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