• File Size 659.52 KB
• Published Dec 6, 2012

Better Nutrition for Children in Uganda: The Policymaker's Role

While tremendous progress has been made in improving welfare outcomes in the past 20 years, Uganda continues to have a large population of malnourished children and women. There is also limited appreciation of the devastating impacts of malnutrition, even among policy makers. This policy brief examines some of the causes of malnutrition amongst women and children in Uganda, including poor feeding practices; lack of breastfeeding, quality solid foods, and supplements; and the absence of weight monitoring for children. Due to the fact that feeding practices of mothers and children are deeply entrenched in Ugandan culture, MPs must tackle the stigmatisation relating to malnutrition, possibly through increased sensitisation of communities to the facts regarding malnutrition. Policymakers should also follow up the passage of a food and nutrition bill, address the low budget for nutrition interventions and ensure that malnutrition is not treated solely as a health sector issue and but addressed through a multi-ministry approach.

Date: 2012-12-06

Author: Ibrahim Kasirye

Attached Files