Assessing Hidden Hunger in African Countries: Some Preliminary Findings
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2018, Vol 11, Issue 1
Abstract
This commentary reports on the early results of a study designed to assess the scope of hidden hunger in 36 African countries. This paper is based on the assessment of the three countries included in that project, especially those ranked as the hungriest in Africa and the world. Among the various meanings of hunger, one refers to the want or scarcity of food in a country, and it is in that sense that this commentary addresses hunger. The approach here is to present preliminary findings from an ongoing research project and to show how existing survey research represents a way to assess the scope of hidden hunger in a country. The broad classification of hungry persons includes those who do suffer from what is known as “hidden hunger.” Since this research study utilizes a self-report measure to assess hunger, the results reported here may be seen to more closely reflect hidden hunger. In the world there are an estimated two billion persons that are affected by a chronic deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals. [1]. Among this population the signs of malnutrition and hunger are less visible, but it has negative and long-term consequences, often for long term health, productivity and cognitive development The second classification includes those who demonstrate clear cut hunger. In the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Report (2015), the estimate was that 925 million people were hungry worldwide, and that 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry or undernourished. This made Africa the continent with the second largest number of hungry people, following Asia and the Pacific with 578 million. Due to the difference in population sizes, Sub-Saharan Africa had the largest proportion of hungry/undernourished people, estimated at 30 percent of the population compared to 16 percent in Asia and the Pacific. As Clover (2003)[2] has suggested, even though the right to food is one of the most consistently acclaimed assertions in international human rights law, no other human right has been so frequently and spectacularly violated. Her discussion of food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa leads to the conclusion that hunger is a multi-faceted issue in Africa, and that just growing more food will not eradicate the problem. Agriculture is important, and Clover points out that Africa has gone from being a key agricultural commodity exporter into being a net importer; the African continent now receives the most food aid. Perhaps the most important point Clover made was to suggest hunger will not be eradicated by just throwing money at the problem.
Authors and Affiliations
Lincoln J Fry
Keywords
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- EP ID EP588426
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002047
- Views 132
- Downloads 0
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