Addis Ababa Activities are being undertaken to implement the experience of Ethiopia’s Seqota Declaration in other African countries, a multi-year plan put in place to end stunting in children under two years, according to Big Win Philanthropy.

It is to be recalled that in 2015, the Government of Ethiopia made a high level fifteen-year commitment to end stunting in children under two years by 2030 by eradicating the underlying causes of chronic undernutrition.

The commitment known as the Seqota Declaration, is being implemented through a multi-sectoral program involving nine different sector ministries.

Approached by ENA, CEO of Big Win Philanthropy which is based in the US and UK, Kesetebirhan Admau stated that the undernutrition problem is causing multifaceted problems particularly, for the African continent.

For the CEO, Ethiopia, which is executing a fifteen-year Seqota Declaration to end stunting in children, has become successful in this regard.

Accordingly, efforts have been exerted in order to replicate Ethiopia’s best experience on the implementation of Seqota Declaration in other African countries.

“The Seqota Declaration is to ensure that children have complete physical and mental development. In terms of achieving this, there is some hope. In particular, the declaration is being considered as a model for the African continent. This declaration is also being taken as a model for showing political commitment, especially for the work done in different sectors. Our organization (Big Win Philanthropy) is working to replicate the same model with some six African countries.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global target to reduce the number of stunted children under-five by 40 percent until 2025.

The target was based on analysis of time series data from 148 countries and national success stories in tackling undernutrition, it was indicated.

However, the CEO argued many countries are falling behind to meet this global target and effectively translate into a tangible result.

Unless the leaders of the countries don’t show a political commitment and focus on the national food system, the problem will continue to worsen, Kesetebirhan underlined.

He added that the international organizations have to put positive pressure on governments to facilitate the implementation.

Although self-sufficiency in food is the key issue of the moment, nutrition is an issue that should be taken into account, said Kesetebirhan.

He further stated that in order to deal with crises caused by natural and man-made problems, there is a need to work to overcome the problem of malnutrition.

In this regard, the CEO went to cite the Ethiopia’s Green Legacy program and the other national initiative known as “ Yelemat Tirufat” or ‘bounty of the basket’ in English, are believed to play a significant role in ensuring food and nutrition security.

Under its 10 year prospective plan, Ethiopia envisages to reduce stunting from 37 percent to 13 percent for children under the age of 5, and from 7 to 3 percent for kids under the age of 1 by 2020, he added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency