Economy and politics major contributors of child malnutrition

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka serving ECDE learners free fortified porridge during the launch of the free feeding program. [Juliet Omelo, Standard]

In a world armed with unprecedented scientific knowledge, lifesaving medicines, and sophisticated health technologies, millions of African children continue to suffer the twin scourges of malnutrition and obesity.

In countries like Kenya and South Africa, this contradiction is especially stark. We can develop mRNA vaccines in record time, but we can't guarantee a child a balanced meal.

Speaking during the Africa Health Communications Fellowship in Johannesburg, health activist and social justice advocate Mark Heywood said 29 per cent of South African children under five are stunted.

"That is politics impacting health. We have the means, but not the outcomes," he said.

Heywood argued that health in the 21st century is no longer just a medical or social issue, but deeply political.

He said governments today have access to epidemiological data, health technologies, and scientific breakthroughs like never before. Yet, public health is worsening, particularly among the most vulnerable.

In Kenya, the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) indicates that 18 per cent of children under five are stunted with another 10 per cent being underweight, 5 per cent wasted and some 3 per cent overweight.

According to the report, although some progress has been made compared to previous years, deep disparities remain with children from poorer households continue to bear the brunt of malnutrition.

Dr Emily Njunguna, a pediatrician at PATH Kenya, said malnutrition is more than just low body weight.

"We're also dealing with 'hidden hunger'-micronutrient deficiencies in iron, zinc, and essential vitamins that quietly erode a child's ability to grow, learn, and fight infections," she said.

The doctor said children who suffer from wasting are dangerously thin for their height, often due to food shortages or illness while those stunted suffer a form of chronic undernutrition that permanently impairs both physical and cognitive development.

She said most families are not making poor food choices out of ignorance but they simply cannot afford better.

Climate shocks like droughts and floods are decimating crops, while rising food prices make nutritious diets out of reach for many. Meanwhile, supermarkets and street vendors are flooded with junk food aggressively marketed to both parents and children.

"Treating malnourished children without fixing the broken systems around them is like mopping the floor while the tap is still running," Dr Njunguna warns, adding, "The real issue here is not just hunger, it is inequality."

Njuguna said climate-resilient agriculture, stronger regulation of junk food marketing, and bold, pro-nutrition policies that make diverse, healthy diets affordable and accessible to all should be among ways adopted for a comprehensive response to the situation.

"This is not a task for the health sector alone. It also call on political leadership, community action, and cross-sector collaboration," she said.