4% Liberian children are chronically malnourished

Liberia is listed among the ten poorest countries in the world, with its economy crippled by massive corruption and bureaucratic tendencies that scare away investors.

By: Emmanuel wise Jipoh

Monrovia, September 13, 2024/ At least about four percent of Liberian children below age five are malnourished, while over 2.2 million people, about 47% of the population, are food insecure.

Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah, making the disclosure here on Thursday, September 12, during the launch of the Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFSNS), said about 29% of Liberian children under age five experienced stunting growth, citing a 2021 Global Nutrition Survey report.

 Dr. Nuetah said the statistics suggest a crucial need for decisive action to curb the situation in Liberia.

However, he noted that despite the hindrances of Ebola and COVID-19, Liberia has made some strides towards food security.

Meanwhile, he said the survey, which is being launched, is expected to reveal and present the current status of food security and nutritional needs in the country.

“The survey will employ a multi-sectoral approach, engaging and collaborating with local and international stakeholders across sectors to ensure comprehensive data collection and analysis and identify needs and vulnerabilities,” Dr. Nuetah said.

Dr. Nuetah later announced an initial commitment of US144,300 toward the initiative, while calling on partners to support the program.

For his part, the Director-General-designate of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, Mr. Richard Ngafuan, spoke of LISGIS’s commitment and provision of technical support for the conduct of the survey. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah