Nearly 15 percent of young children in D’Kar malnourished
Child malnutrition has reached alarming levels in D’Kar, a settlement deep in the Ghanzi District.
During a check-up in January in which 343 children were assessed, local health officials found 14.8 percent of kids under the age of five were underweight.
According to D’Kar Health Post Nurse, Thabiso Mhlauli, under fives account for 18 percent of the community's 2, 500 residents.
Mhlauli warned of the severe impact of malnutrition on children’s health, linking it to recurring illnesses such as diarrhoea and flu, which often prove fatal if not treated.
He stressed the importance of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a life-saving paste made from powdered milk, peanuts, butter, vegetable oil, sugar, and a mix of vitamins and minerals.
Widely used by UNICEF and boasting a two-year shelf life, one RUTF sachet combines 500 calories and numerous micronutrients.
Highlighting the persistent challenges in combating malnutrition in the area, Phenyo Nkamane, a Health Post Education Assistant in Ghanzi, mentioned health workers struggling to access children in remote farming areas, low food ration supplies from the government and widespread unemployment.
“These factors lead to household food insecurity, making it difficult for families to afford nutritional supplements or provide the recommended three meals a day. The crisis is further compounded by social issues like gender-based violence, often fueled by economic dependence,” noted Nkamane.
In a much-needed gesture of support, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Ogawa Shin, acknowledged his country’s partnership with UNICEF and the Botswana government in funding critical child nutrition programs bringing hope to the drought- stricken communities.
