As the world celebrated World Food Day, the United Nations World Food Program or WFP country Director warned the Government against dangers of under-nutrition in South Sudan.
Chris Nikoi said undernourishment is more than a health and social issue: it is a fundamentally economic issue.
He added that undernourished children cannot perform to their full potential when they become adults.
The WFP chief added that under-nutrition can result to more than six percent average loss on the country’s gross domestic product or GDP.
Mr Nikoi said Uganda lost more than 5.6 percent of its GDP in 2009, Egypt two percent and Swaziland 3.1 percent due to under-nutrition.
He noted that reducing hanger is very important to lay the foundation of the future of South Sudan.
Mr Nikoi urged the government, WPF and other NGOs to double efforts to face under-nutrition in the country.
The WFP Country Director made these statements during the celebration of the World Food Day in Juba on Wednesday.
The celebration was under the theme ‘Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition.’