By: Mariama Njie
The Vice President of The Gambia Dr. Isatou Touray has said the country is losing D3.96 billion annually to children undernutrition.
“We are losing annually D3.96 billion because of child undernutrition on health and productivity,” Dr. Isatou Touray has said at the launch of “Cost of Hunger in Africa Report”, held at Kairaba Beach Hotel., Kololi on Monday.
“It must be prevented from continuing, adding challenges of undernutrition are not difficult to address if adequate evidence is presented to policy and decision-makers. The cost of hunger in Africa study is an African Union initiative that receives endorsement at the highest level from the African Head of States and government. This is a clear demonstration of both my government and African union, commits to addressing malnutrition,” she added.
She said The Gambia is grappling with multiple challenges that cannot ignore the development. While emphasise on human capital, which she said is the country driving force to achieving the national development plan.
“And we are indeed very pleased to participated in this study, as it represents the unique and timely contribution to help us understand the impact of child nutrition in our country social economic development”, she expressed.
The Vice President quickly added noted that the study is in line to promote food and nutrition security, as enshrine in the National Development Plan and we are humble in acknowledging with pride to improve nutritional status of the Gambian.
According to her, The Gambia is among 26 countries globally to validate the Cost of Hunger in Africa findings which about 20 of those country been Africa.
