In Search of Healthy Food and Good Health for the Sahel
In Search of Healthy Food and Good Health for the Sahel

Author: Dramane Samaké

Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Published: 2010-08

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 9783838316529

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The Sahel region is undoubtedly the most important part of Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of poverty and vulnerability of its population to food insecurity, which in turn is partly responsible for the growing problem of under-nutrition in this region. However, it is worth noting, that malnutrition and all its consequences are not always so much a lack of food as a lack of knowledge about food. To this end, nutrition-related programs and projects aimed at this region, should target not only food insecurity, but also "nutritional ignorance" throughout the dissemination of nutrition education. This book presents the Sahel region in all its nutrition-relevant aspects, from food supply throughout the nutritional status and health care of Sahelians. Based on the analysis of these aspects, the Author - a victim of vitamin A deficiency during the very early stages of his life - developed with emotion and passion two proposals of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) for health promotion in this region of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Improving Nutrition as a Development Priority
Improving Nutrition as a Development Priority

Author: Todd David Benson

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2008-01-01

Total Pages: 114

ISBN-13: 0896291650

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Undernutrition remains a major source of human suffering and an obstacle to national economic and human development in many African countries. This report investigates undernutrition's persistence, drawing on case studies of the public response to the problem in Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Uganda. Analyzing each nation's policymaking structures, political actors, understanding of undernutrition, and the timing of public responses, the author explains why none of these four nations has mounted an effective campaign to eliminate undernutrition. The author identifes several different causes of this shortcoming, with one underlying flaw in the various public responses standing out: a fundamental failure on the part of political leaders to see undernutrition as a grave problem that undermines development efforts in their nations. The author concludes that an effective response to undernutrition in these countries requires the formation of national advocacy coalitions that can raise public awareness of the problem, highlight policymakers' duty to ensure the nutrition of their citizens, and link proper nutrition to general national development. This report should serve as a resource for advocates, researchers, and others concerned with undernutrition in Africa.