The Irish Ambassador to Zambia, Finbar O’Brien, has reiterated the Irish government’s commitment to the Global Fight Against hunger.
Speaking during the official launch of the Global Hunger Index in Mumbwa, about 150km West on Lusaka, Ambassador O’Brien said it was for that reason that the Irish government works closely with the United Nations Agencies and other donors in Zambia to provide global leadership.
“The Irish government translates its commitments to reducing global hunger into programmes with the government of Zambia, including the pooled donor funding for the 1000 most critical days programme or the Scaling Up Nutrition project alongside the Department of International Development of Britain and the Swedish Development Agency”, Ambassador O’Brien added.
The Global Hunger Index was conducted by Concern Worldwide, an Irish Non Governmental Organisations with funding from the Government of Ireland and the Kerry Group, a global food manufacturer headquartered in Ireland.
Ambassador O’Brien reiterated the need for people to remember that “over 800 million people, or one in seven of the world’s population, are hungry today and under-nutrition is one of the world’s most serious but least addressed health problems. The human and economic costs are enormous, falling hardest on the very poor and on women and children. In developing countries, it is estimated that three and a half million mothers and children die needlessly each year because under-nutrition leaves them more vulnerable to infectious disease,” he added.
The Global Hunger Index, which is calculated and launched annually, is an opportunity to reflect on global hunger, assess progress to date and refresh commitment and motivation to act. This year the focus of the Index is on hidden hunger, especially the micronutrient deficiencies which have such adverse effects on human development.
Ambassador O’Brien thanked the Zambian government for having a strong policy framework and partnerships with a range of institutions in both government and civil society engaged in the movement to scale up nutrition.
“The Zambian government has a clear roadmap for tackling under-nutrition and the National Food and Nutrition Commission supports coordination and provides technical advice and guidance. Likewise, the nutrition for growth commitments to reduce under-nutrition by 50% in the next 10 years through increasing nutrition-related expenditure to $30/child and increase nutrition funding by 20% year on year are a bold statement of commitment. Civil society is committed to addressing under-nutrition and is organised in the Civil Society Organisations SUN Alliance, improving practice and monitoring government commitment and progress. This is commendable,” Ambassador O’Brien noted.
