In a report published by UNICEF, at least one of three children under five, or more than 200 million children, are undernourished or overweight. The report also notes a stagnation in the prevalence of stunting with more than 8.5 million affected children under age 5, of whom 52% live in the poorest households is observed in the DRC.
This UNICEF report points out that nearly 1.5 million children under 5 are too thin for their height. The DRC is the first country in West and Central Africa where children have growth problems. Unicef says nearly 920,000 children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years are not consuming recommended foods that can support the rapid optimal growth of their bodies and brains. It is proposed to the DRC and its partners to focus efforts in nutrition by investing in the agriculture and rural development sectors.
In addition, the MICS 2018 survey reveals that only 54% of children aged from 0 to 5 months out of 2 are exclusively breastfed. This document adds that Unicef pleads in particular for the implementation of programs to improve food systems and make them sensitive to children for the mobilization of financial investments in prevention programs and the fight against all forms of malnutrition.
(CKS/Yes)