PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed 12 Regional Commissioners to take deliberate actions to address high prevalence rate of stunting in their respective areas.
The regions with highest prevalence of stunting above national rate include Iringa (56.9pc ) Njombe ( 50.4), Rukwa ( 49.8), Geita ( 38.6) Ruvuma ( 35.6), Kagera ( 34.3), Simiyu ( 33.2), Tabora ( 33.1), Katavi ( 32.2), Manyara ( 32), Songwe ( 31.9) and Mbeya ( 31.5).
“Leaders in these regions should contemplate on this situation and take appropriate actions,” he said.
The PM issued the directives in Mtwara Region yesterday during the launch of Uhuru Torch race at national level held at Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in the Region.
“The available statistics indicate that nutrition status among Tanzanians is not satisfactory due to stunting among children under five, underweight and overweight,” he said.
On the other hand, the PM said obesity (overweight) is the only indicator which had never dropped as it has continued to increase from 11.3 per cent in 1991 to 31.7 per cent in 2018 in Mainland while in Zanzibar overweight is 41.8 percent in the period under review.
He said that, the problem of overweight and abdominal obesity is high in Kilimanjaro with 49 per cent, Dar es Salaam (48.6pc), Mjini Magharibi (47.4pc) and Unguja South (39.4pc).
“This situation is leading to national crisis and one of the main contributors of the increasing Non Communicable Diseases (NDCs) such as diabetes, cancer and cardio vascular diseases,” he said.
The Premier insisted that, said it is high time people changed their life style by doing physical exercise at least half an hour every day, eat balanced diet and avoid food with excess fat, sugar, alcohol and cigarette.
The Uhuru Torch race will run for 196 days in 31 regions and 195 councils in Mainland.
Majaliwa lighted the Uhuru Torch yesterday noon and handed it to Uhuru Torch race leader Abdallah Shaib Kaim.
Mr Kaim received the Uhuru Torch, pledging to hand it over to President Samia Suluhu Hassan on October 14 this year.
The theme for this year focuses on six areas including fighting against environmental degradation, HIV/ AIDS, corruption, illicit drugs, Malaria and nutrition.
Meanwhile, Majaliwa said that the sixth phase government is committed to improve the provision of social services and people’s wellbeing through various sectors including health, education, water and roads.
“These steps are being implemented in line with huge investment in transport and distribution of electricity, agriculture and industries,” he said.
“However, you will agree with me that the efficiency of these services is being affected to a great extent by climate change and environmental degradation of which 95 per cent is a result of human activities,” he said.
Majaliwa said Tanzania is among the countries which have been affected by environmental degradation which has resulted into climate change through unsustainable human activities.
Uhuru Torch race was introduced in 1961 by the first phase President, the late Julius Nyerere which symbolises freedom and light to shine the country and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enmity and respect where there is hatred. The Uhuru Torch race runs across the country and ends in October 14.
