Inflation contributing to malnutrition

By SITEMBILE SIWAWA

Poor households in Africa

CENTRE for Trade Policy and Development executive director Isabel Mukelebai says the high food prices which have been necessitated by the inflation rate have contributed to poor households consuming less nutritious foods.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka recently, Ms Mukelebai said poor households are consuming smaller quantities of nutritious foods which risk in having stunted children.

She said if the inflation rate is not properly addressed, the increasing food prices will continue negatively affecting the poor.

“People have a right to make good food choices and when this is not possible due to severely low purchasing power, it not only affects the quality of life but also affects the dignity of people,”

“The impact of inflation and food prices are already being seen in the unacceptably high levels of under-nutrition,” said Ms Mukelebai.

And Ms Mukelebai said failure by citizens to consume nutritious foods will slow down human development and economic growth, hence negatively impacting national development.

She noted that these outcomes will also threaten the achievement of many national development interventions such the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Meanwhile, Zambia council for social development (ZCSD) is concerned with the inability of school leavers at O levels to access tertiary institutions.

ZCSD advocacy and information officer Chimfwembe Kana said tertiary education level still remains a challenge.

Mr Chimfwembe said 55,000 school leavers at O levels, about 15 per cent have access to tertiary institutions.

“This is perhaps one of the lowest in Southern African Development Region. And we are equally concerned with the quality of education being given in schools,” he said.

Mr Chimfwembe added that the teacher-pupil ratio at primary school level stills remains a challenge especially in rural areas.