Sustaining nutrition security in Africa under changing socio-economic condition

The adoption and implementation of the structural adjustment programme (SAP) in the 1980's by many African countries as a strategy for economic recovery has increased the magnitude of hunger and protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and anaemia. In addition population growth rate has continued to outstrip the food supply at a time when real income value has fallen, thereby diminishing further the access of the poor to nutritious food. Even though Africa's present food supply situation is inadequate and in some cases unsustainable it is reassuring to note that Africa can feed itself provided the potential of doing so is mobilized and sustained. This paper proposes and highlights strategies for the development of a nutrition strategy and nutrition education programmes with emphasis on nutrition programmes which benefit the vulnerables. The paper further proposes that specific policies should be targeted at the poor while instituting food subsidies schemes for those who are most at risk nutritionally.