BUJUMBURA, February 18th (ABP) – During the workshop for media professionals held on Thursday, February 13, 2025, the coordinator of the PA project of the Sub-regional Center of Excellence in Nutrition Sciences (EANSI), Prof. Melance Ntunzwenimana took stock of the state of malnutrition in the EAC member countries, EANSI being considered as a scientific pole to eradicate malnutrition and food insecurity in Burundi and the East African Community region.
Prof. Melance Ntunzwenimana first recalled that among the missions of EANSI are to ensure, in collaboration with the ministries in charge of health and education, regional leadership in high-level training and research in nutrition sciences. The said center also ensures quality regional management of nutrition-related diseases and continuing education in nutrition sciences. It also ensures the establishment of a mechanism to coordinate nutrition research in member countries, the publication and dissemination of nutrition research results as well as good practices in all member states. In addition, EANSI collaborates with other national and international health training and research institutions, particularly the 4 centers established in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. It also provides training in Master’s and Doctorate degrees in nutrition sciences.
Regarding the state of malnutrition in the region, Prof. Ntunzwenimana said that according to ENSNSAB 2019 in Burundi, among children under 5 years old, 54.2% suffer from stunted growth, 5.1% are meager or suffer from acute malnutrition, and 27.2% are underweight. In Rwanda, the September 2021 Demographic and Health Survey showed that 33% of Rwandan children aged 6-59 months are stunted, 1% are meager or acutely malnourished, 8% are underweight, and 6% are overweight.
In Tanzania, the 2022 and January 2023 Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey showed that 30% of children U5 are stunted and 9% are severely stunted. 3% of children U5 are meager while 4% are overweight. 12% of children U5 are underweight, and 3% are severely underweight.
In Uganda, Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) from 2022 to September 2023 shows that 26% of children U5 are stunted, 2.9% of children U5 are meager while 2.8% are overweight and 10.2% of children U5 are underweight.
In Kenya, Kenya Demographic and Health Survey from 2022 to January 2023 shows that 18% of children U5 are stunted. 5% of children U5 are meager while 3% of children U5 are overweight.
In South Sudan, the 2006 Demographic and Health Survey revealed a shocking picture. Malnutrition is not only high but also widespread. The global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate was 22%, underweight 33%, and stunting 34% in children under 5 years old.
In the DRC, the demographic health survey (EDS 2013-2014) shows that overall, 43% of children aged 0 to 59 months suffer from chronic malnutrition and one in five (23%) from severe malnutrition, 8% suffer from acute malnutrition and 23% suffer from underweight and 7% from severe form.