MPs take keen interest in ‘alarming’ child malnutrition

Means to improve children’s diets were the hot topic of discussion at an awareness day for MPs and senators surrounding malnutrition.

Hilarion Etong, First Vice-President of the National Assembly, opened Thursday’s seminar in Yaoundé, organised by the Network of Cameroon Parliamentarians in the fight against famine.

Otherwise known as Racine de vie, the group have been particularly interested in underfeeding problems since it was founded in December 2013.

The twenty elected parliamentarians who found themselves in the House were first told the situation is "alarming".

According to UNICEF representatives, Mr. Etong and Bliss Tchibindat, one in three children suffer from stunted growth and the poor quality and lack of food does not affect the children elsewhere.

They also stated Cameroon loses almost $730 million every year "because the problem of malnutrition is not addressed as a priority."

The First Vice President said the room resolutely decided to support government policies to fight against malnutrition. He also urged his fellow parliamentarians to further absorb the issues of the question to be better prepared to pass the necessary budgets and monitor their effective use.

Vincent de Paul Emah Etoundi, president of the network, said: "Beyond the parliamentary members of the network, it is important to educate the rest of parliament. This phenomenon is far from being a public health problem only.

“We must work together with the administrative and traditional authorities and the other leaders as well as the populations in the strengthening of the prevention of the malnutrition.”