Shame On Us

Almost a third of Namibian children under five years of age are reported to suffer from stunted growth and are underweight. As reported by this newspaper yesterday, no fewer than 38 Namibians have died of the most severe form of malnutrition – starvation – between January and May this year. More than 23 000 Namibians have been treated for malnutrition over the past three and a half years, and children younger than five years make up nearly half of the statistics. More than 700 people have died during the same period. Although it could not be determined how many of those were children, it is not difficult to guess that they were in the majority.
It is a shame on Namibians, all of us, especially adults but more so the well-to-do classes. Evidence points to an uncaring society, starting with mothers and fathers who fail to feed their children properly, but more so for the rich or those who have more than enough but do not share with their vulnerable and less fortunate countrymen and women.
Some may want to split hairs and point out that malnutrition should not be equated with lack of food. But Namibia’s malnutrition and the starvation that has befallen some can be unavoidably linked to under-nutrition, which experts say is “caused by a diet lacking in calories – not enough food, and of poor quality,” to quote the internet-based free encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Shame on parents [not only mothers] who fail in their duty to ensure their newborn babies are breastfed adequately. In Namibia it is reported that malnutrition among the most vulnerable people [the under five years] is caused by poor nutrition and lack of care for pregnant women and especially after they have given birth, consequently leading to children suffering. In fact, studies have reported that a mere less than six percent of Namibian mothers exclusively breastfeed for a minimum of six months, as recommended by the World Health Organisation, in order to provide infants adequate health and nutrition. It should not surprise us that many Namibian children are stunted and thus vulnerable to diseases and death.
It is a big shame that a country, whose people often boast about being rich and having living conditions better than most on the continent, can allow its vulnerable population to struggle for food and proper nutrition.
Figures from the Ministry of Health and Social Services suggest a lot of strides have been made over the past five years. But with the drought already wreaking havoc, even the small amount of progress made could be reversed. It is not the duty of the government alone which, in any case, appears to concentrate on short-term measures like giving food aid.
Shame on many individuals, businesses and others in society who turn a blind eye. A coordinated effort is needed in educating fellow Namibians about the importance of proper nutrition as well as providing training and jobs to help people sustain themselves for long periods.
An organisation like the Namibia Alliance for Improved Nutrition that former Prime Minister Nahas Angula set up in 2010 should be made more visible and be strengthened to coordinate efforts against malnutrition. Without coordination, separate efforts that individuals and organisations take could amount to mere drops in the ocean. We need to get Namibia out of the bleak situation that the people we refer to as the future of the country find themselves in.