53% of children below one year are anemic - Ministry of Health

This was revealed by Sarah Ngalombi, a representative of Ministry of Health, during the Nutrition Society of Uganda (NSU) dialogue in stunting held at Makerere University's School of Food, Nutrition and Bioengineering.

Nyombi further said revealed that the health ministry is still struggling with the challenge of both under nutrition and over nutrition.

"Stunting indicator tells a lot about a country's development. We are still struggling with under nutrition in Uganda. Now we also have a challenge of over nutrition," she said.

Current Ministry of Health data also indicates that 29% below the age of children under five are stunted while 11% of them (same age bracket) are underweight.

Stunting in children has however gone down compared to the early 2000s data seen by this reporter, which indicated that stunting in the country was at 45%.

Nyombi however said that the health ministry has established efforts to reduce stunting in the country.

These, according to her, include: growth monitoring and promotion of children below the age of two years, nutrition screening and assessments for all clients at health facilities, food fortification, vitamin

A supplementation among children of five years and above, breast feeding promotion among others. Uganda has been grappling with malnutrition which has been severally linked to the low income levels of majority of the country's parents by food and nutrition experts.

Besides low income levels, majority of people, according to Dr. Abel Atukwase, Dean School of Food technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering at Makerere University, are also ignorant about the right feeding practices most especially when it comes to children.

"Some of our people need to be sensitized, most especially those in rural areas. Yes, some have low income levels, but still they are also ignorant about the right feeding practices for children," he said.

He further added that poor feeding at a young age affects the growth and development of children.

"A poorly fed child won't have a well developed brain. It also leads to being stunted later on in adulthood," he added.

17% of women, according to the health ministry data, are overweight while 7% of men are overweight.

This, according to some the nutrition experts at the event, has come as a result of over feeding.