NFNC Intensifies Efforts to Cut Stunting Rates by 2030
The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing Zambia’s stunting rate from the current 32 percent to 20 percent by 2030 through nationwide, multisectoral interventions.
During a recent engagement with Mongu District Commissioner Morgan Akabeswa, NFNC Acting Head of Nutrition Education and Communications, Idah Chama, emphasized the need for urgent action.
She noted that the stunting rate in Western Province stands at 29 percent—a figure she described as alarming, particularly when compared to the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold of below 20 percent.
“One of our primary strategies is partnering with the media to raise public awareness about the long-term harm caused by stunting,” Ms. Chama stated. “Children who suffer from stunting face lifelong consequences in cognitive development, affecting their ability to think and learn as adults.”
She stressed that a well-informed public is key to ensuring healthier future generations and called for stronger stakeholder engagement across sectors.
Commissioner Akabeswa welcomed the initiative and commended NFNC’s efforts to educate communities on proper nutrition. “We must all work together to combat this issue,” he said, pointing to the Ministry of Education as a vital partner in promoting nutrition among children.
To strengthen this approach, a team from the National Communication and Advocacy Technical Working Group is in Western Province conducting a five-day Capacity Building Workshop for journalists. The workshop focuses on enhancing media coverage of nutrition and health, particularly within the context of climate change.
