Government must address income, nutritional poverty - JCTR

Government must address income, nutritional poverty - JCTR
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 05 Mar. 2012, 11:58 CAT

THE government must address income and nutritional poverty if the wealth that flows from economic growth is to benefit all Zambians, states the JCTR.

In a statement released yesterday, JCTR programme officer in the Social Conditions Programme Sosten Banda stated that the significantly high percentage of households living in extreme poverty and consequently with incomes inadequate to meet the cost of basic food and essential non food items was clear testimony of the depth of poverty in the country.

Banda stated that according to the 2010 Living Conditions and Monitoring Survey Report, approximately 66.8 per cent of Zambians had incomes below K800,000.

He stated that nutritional poverty continues to be reflected by the unacceptably high chronic malnutrition rates at a national average of 45 per cent of children under five years being stunted.

Banda stated that the JCTR Rural Basket, which was a quarterly survey that measures nutritional poverty and social service delivery in selected rural districts of Zambia that include Chongwe, Masaiti, Mambwe, Mufumbwe, Kazungula and Shangombo, continues to reflect serious income and nutritional deficiencies.

He stated that the 2011 JCTR fourth quarter Rural Basket indicated that serious failure by most households to meet key nutritional requirements deviated significantly from the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended standards for an individual to lead a healthy and dignified life.

"For instance, the average energy intake in this quarter shows that most households are consuming approximately 1,500 kilocalories, falling far below the recommended 2,400 kilocalories WHO recommended threshold for a rural setting. Furthermore, over 75 per cent of households failed to meet the cost of essential non-food items. This means that households are not only nutritionally poor but also income impoverished reflected by their failure to meet the cost of essential non food items like bathing soap, among others," he stated.

Banda stated that although policy pronouncements were important as a starting point for sustainable responses, the government should go beyond policy pronouncements to implementation of strategies and programmes.

He stated that stakeholders in the rural development agenda should recognise that nutrition was not just about food.

Banda stated that necessary change in the lives of Zambians affected by nutritional poverty required concerted, broad multi-sectoral actions across agriculture and community development sectors.

He stated that concerted response needs the full engagement of affected communities, working closely with relevant government ministries, especially at the local levels.

Banda stated that the country could also benefit from global expertise and good practices as proven solutions were available in addressing income and nutritional poverty.