Malnutrition cases continue to be reported almost on a daily basis in the Omaheke Region.
Since the beginning of December 2023, the region has recorded 78 new malnutrition cases.
Alcohol abuse and negligence of children by parents are some of the key contributing factors.
This was revealed by the Regional Governor, Pijoo Nganate, in Gobabis.
Speaking at the media conference, the Regional Governor, Pijoo Nganate, said that malnutrition requires a multi-faceted approach, and through the office of the Prime Minister, food distribution has been extended to affected families in and around Gobabis.
The governor bemoans that some parents are selling donated food items or trading them for alcohol, which contributes heavily to the ever-increasing malnutrition cases in the region.
Nganate adds that the idea is to find a permanent solution, with plans on the cards to develop farmland near the town with the aim of producing enough nutritional foods to feed hungry community members.
“There are 33 new cases from the 45 that are still in the ward, battling with a high level of malnutrition and battling to bring these children to the level they should be in terms of their weight in terms of their nutritional needs. The problem is that we don’t have nuts or therapeutic food; they are out of stock all over the country, and we are also appealing to good samaritans to donate peanut butter to the office of the governor. So the issue is that it is going up, but it is worrisome that the government is giving food to parents but parents are not giving food to the children. Some food stuff gets sold in exchange for alcohol, and the other issue is child neglect.”
Furthermore, Nganate calls on the youth not to leave behind their children with elders at home without anything to eat.
Drimiopsis settlement and Otjinene Village Council have also now joined Gobabis on the list of malnutrition cases, noted Nganate.
The governor appealed to traditional leaders and business people in the region to come on board if the region is to fight malnutrition in a more coordinated manner.
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