The economy of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is losing 1.637 billion Congolese francs, or more than a billion dollars a year, to the effects of child undernutrition. This is equivalent to as much as 4.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The social and economic costs of undernutrition are revealed in a new study released in Kinshasa today. The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study was undertaken by the government of DRC in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
The study shows that the losses are incurred each year through increased healthcare costs, additional burdens to the education system and reduced workforce productivity.
“I welcome this important joint initiative which will contribute significantly to the government’s efforts to minimize the loss of human and economic potential to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a silent emergency, accounting for nearly half of all infant deaths. For the country to develop, we need to address this situation urgently,” DRC Prime Minister and Head of Government Bruno Tshibala Nzenzhe.
According to the report, DRC could save up to CDF355 billion (around US$383. million) by 2025 if the prevalence of underweight children is reduced from 11 to 5 percent and if stunting (low growth for age) is reduced from 43 to 10 percent.
“These results call on all of us to act now to avoid future losses caused by hunger. I’m convinced that with the understanding we now have of the terrible economic and social impact of malnutrition on children, we and our partners can work with the government to make a real difference to this alarming situation,” WFP Country Director in DRC, Claude Jibidar.
The Cost of Hunger in Africa study has so far been conducted in 11 countries. The economies of these countries suffer an estimated annual loss associated with child undernutrition that is equivalent to between 1.9 percent and 16.5 percent of GDP. Results of recently undertaken COHA studies are due to be released soon in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Similar studies are being planned for Mali and Mauritania.
Source: WFP. Read full information.
7 July, 2017
