“Nutrition must be put at Heart of Africa’s Food Security Plans” says GAIN
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 26, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On the eve of the 3rd EU-Africa Summit, GAIN- the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, calls on European Union and African heads of states and governments to put improved nutrition at the heart of food security and agriculture goals. “If we can do this, and create a movement of governments, citizens and the private food producers we can achieve the good nutrition required to achieve the Millennium Development Goals” said Jay Naidoo, Chair of GAIN Board.
On 29 and 30 November, the heads of states and governments of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) are to adopt in Tripoli a second Action Plan for the coming three years building on the existing Joint Africa-EU Strategy launched in 2007. One of the main objectives of this partnership between EU and Africa is to promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and especially food security targets of the MDGs.
African leaders have the opportunity to lead global efforts food and nutrition security by linking these goals to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
“The recent MDG Summit confirmed that nutrition is foundational for health and development and achieving real food security for our citizens. Not many of our nations have yet paid attention to nutrition in the way it deserves. We know that better nutrition requires an effort to link agriculture and health strategies together and it requires commitment and support from donors, developing country governments, development agencies, CSOs, and the private sector Nutrition must be prioritized, adequately funded and targets clearly set and monitored.” Jay Naidoo added.
In Africa one in four people suffer from malnutrition, twenty-five percent of children are undernourished and forty percent are stunted. Fifty three percent of pregnant women in Africa are anemic – a public health problem in itself. Malnutrition destroys young bodies, creating vulnerability to disease and illness. It also damages young minds, harming educational and work performance in later life, damaging individuals, their families, communities and nations. It has a particularly harmful effect on women’s health. It saps strength and can reduce national GDP by up to 3%. Malnutrition links directly to poverty, child mortality, maternal health, AIDS and many other infectious diseases. Furthermore, it limits the achievement of education and gender equality.
“We know how to reduce malnutrition throughout the life-cycle by a number of simple, targeted and cost-effective solutions” said Jay Naidoo, Chair of GAIN Board. “The critical window of opportunity is the 1000 day period from conception to two years old. Fortified staples, breastfeeding, good infant feeding practices, more nutritious complementary foods are some of the tools available to help permanently break this intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. New ways to mobilize business, develop agriculture and food security, and improve feeding and health practices are available”.
About GAIN
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is an alliance driven by the vision of a world without malnutrition. GAIN was created in 2002 at a Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children. GAIN is a Swiss foundation that mobilizes public-private partnerships and provides financial and technical support to deliver foods to those people most at risk of malnutrition. GAIN’s innovative partnerships in more than 25 countries are reaching over 200 million people. Its portfolio is growing and its target is to reach one billion people with innovative nutritious foods. GAIN is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Offices in Beijing, Cairo, Johannesburg, and New Delhi support programs where they are needed most. For more information, please visit: http://www.gainhealth.org/.
About Jay Naidoo
Jay Naidoo is Chairman of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and founder of the social development arm of an investment and management company, J&J Group, which he co-founded. He serves in an advisory capacity for a number of organisations including the Global Health Advisory Panel of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and was recently appointed to the Broadband Commission of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). From 1994 to 1999, Jay was the Minister responsible for South Africa’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and Communications Minister in Nelson Mandela’s Cabinet. He was the founding General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) where he served three terms (1985 to 1993). From 2001-2010, Jay was Chairperson of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). Jay was the recipient of, among other awards, the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour), one of France’s highest decorations, and received the ‘Drivers for Change Award’ from the Southern African Trust and Mail & Guardian newspaper in Oct 2010. He has recently returned to full time voluntary work, and publishes a blog at www.thejustcause.org. Jay’s recently published autobiography, ‘Fighting for Justice’, is available in leading bookstores.
Media Relations: ftissandier@gainhealth.org
SOURCE
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
