Finance minister Matia Kasaija has said it’s a shame for Uganda to have malnourished children amidst the presence of plenty of food varieties in the country.
Kasiaja, who addressing delegates during the Health Sector Financing Seminar in Kampala on Thursday said he feels embarrassed whenever the Ministry of Health lists malnutrition as one of the several challenges faced by Ugandans.
According to current reports from Global Food Security Strategy, Uganda is among the top 20 countries with a high prevalence of malnutrition and rated second out of the 12 countries targeted by Feed The Future strategy.
As of 2018, 2.2 million (29 per cent) of children under the age of five are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age. Also over 850,000 (11 per cent) of children under the age of five are underweight and a further 300,000 (4 per cent) are too thin for their height.
Because of malnutrition 4 million (53 per cent) of children under the age of five have become anaemic. The recent USAID reports show that malnutrition has not only affected children in Uganda but also adults and have also suffered similar effects where over 32 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men between the ages of 15 and 49 are anaemic. Malnutrition has made Uganda suffer major health, economic and educational burdens.
However, Kasaija said the more the world becomes global, the more parents forget their responsibility to feed their children which has also increased the burden.
“When I hear the problem of malnutrition, I wonder why it’s in Uganda because we have every type of food a human being needs to be healthy. But the story is different, this challenge is increasing. Who is not doing what is supposed to do? Parents or health officers?” he asked, adding that although the government has kept on increasing the budget of the Ministry of health, challenges such as high malaria incidences, malnutrition, high adolescent pregnancy rates and drug stockout have kept on increasing.
“In terms of financing the health sector, the budget has been increasing over the years from Shs1.3bn in Financial Year (F/Y) 2015/16 to Shs2,589 bn in FY 2019/20 representing an increase of Shs1,319bn or 104 per cent. No money is enough. Ministry Health needs to conduct a sensitising move on how mothers must feed their children this needs collective responsibility,” he added.
The Commissioner in Charge of Planning at the Ministry of Health, Dr Sarah Byakika added that there are more gaps in financing the health sector.
“Sensitisation is still needed to address malnutrition. These include low latrine coverage and family planning. As Ministry of Health we have resorted to preventive measures, to reduce on funds we spend on treating diseases,” she said.
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