THE East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) has signed a five-year partnership agreement with the East and Southern Africa Civil Society Network for Scaling Up Nutrition (ESA SUN CSN) to address malnutrition across 15 countries in the region.

The collaboration aims to tackle widespread nutritional deficiencies that continue to affect millions.

Speaking in Arusha following the signing, ECSA-HC director general Dr Ntuli Kapologwe highlighted the alarming levels of malnutrition. “We must collaborate to eliminate malnutrition.

Research shows that across all 15 countries, we see 30 to 40 percent stunting, 30 percent wasting, and over 30 percent anemia among young girls,” he said.

Dr Kapologwe expressed optimism that the new agreement will accelerate efforts to address these challenges.

He pointed to successful nutrition initiatives in countries like Tanzania—where a national nutrition strategy was launched in 2018 under presidential leadership—as potential models for the region.

A cornerstone of the partnership is the planned establishment of a regional nutrition college. The institution will offer remote learning opportunities, allowing professionals to pursue further training without leaving their workplaces.

This initiative is designed to build the expertise needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including universal access to nutrition by 2030.

Dr Kapologwe stressed that solving malnutrition is not solely the responsibility of the health sector. “Nutrition is a cross-cutting issue that requires input from multiple sectors—including agriculture, fisheries, and others,” he said.

He also warned that malnutrition significantly contributes to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, making urgent action imperative.

ESA SUN CSN chairperson, Edgar Okoth Onyango, welcomed the agreement, calling it a major step toward coordinated efforts at both governmental and grassroots levels.

He confirmed that implementation will begin immediately, with progress reports to be published every six months.

“We believe that through this partnership, we can eradicate all forms of malnutrition by 2030,” Onyango stated.

“Despite ongoing efforts, malnutrition remains prevalent in East, Central, and Southern Africa, and this joint initiative represents a crucial path forward.”