Malnutrition worries Health minister :: Mmegi Online

The Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, on Monday told Parliament during his presentation to Committee of Supply that the country continues to suffer the double burden of malnutrition, where a portion of the population, especially children and other vulnerable groups, suffer from under nutrition while others suffer from overweight and obesity.

He said underweight prevalence amongst children under the age of five stood at 3.8 percent in 2023, slightly above the national target of three percent. In addition, he said the Botswana Demographic Survey of 2023 revealed that 3.6 percent of children aged below five years and 33% of adults were overweight.

“To address these challenges, my ministry, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is in the process of developing the first National Food and Nutrition Policy, which is expected to be completed during the 2024/25 financial year.

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