Malnutrition In Burundi

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Malnutrition in Burundi

Burundi is a typical example of a developing country notorious for hunger and

malnutrition problems. Actually, the nation tops in the Global Hunger Index and is expected to

remain in that position unless stringent measures are implemented to change the status. Despite a

gradual end to civil conflicts, food security in Burundi has continued to remain a significant

issue, subjecting a substantial portion of its population to malnutrition and hunger-related

illnesses. Close to half of rural population lives below the poverty line and suffers from

malnourishment. Currently, the country has an indicator ration of slightly above 35, making it

one of the hungriest nations in the world (Inamahoro et al. 16). In this context, ethical, social,

political, and environmental issues can be used to describe the nutritional problem affecting the

nation.

The global malnutrition index informs that more than 60 percent of Burundians are food-

insecure. The body has also found out that close to 58 percent of country’s population is

chronically malnourished (Global nutrion report 1). Despite a gradual return to peace, as

witnessed in the recent years, food security is yet to improve. On average, a yearly food deficit in

this developing nation is approximated to range from 20 to more than 30 percent compared with

the required 1,746, 000 tons of cereal annual. The situation has been worsening considering that

fact that per capita agricultural production has gone down by 24 percent in the last two and a half

decades with population (Cook 331). Additionally, the population has been growing at a rate of

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close to three percent per annum, which influences the situation as well. The food-shortage issue

in Burundi has caused severe nutritional issues.

In this context, the effect has come with a significant impact on the health of many

Burundians. Most of them, especially children, are hit with marasmus and kwashiorkor because

of food inadequacy in the country. Besides, many women and children are suffering from acute

lack of micronutrients in the diets. As a result, these groups are extremely exposed to contracting

diseases that come due to lack of these essential nutrients in the body. Since children and women

do not get enough iron, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc in their meals, they have been found to suffer

from poor physical growth and retarded intellectual development. Anemia, another serious health

problem, affects children and women in Burundi because of food shortage in the country.

Information provided by the World Bank indicates that more than 40 percent of pregnant women

and 55 percent of children aged five and below suffer from this infection. The cases of anemia,

kwashiorkor, marasmus, and poor physical as well as intellectual development are some of the

consequences of poor nutrition caused by food shortage in Burundi.

Besides health, the issue of malnutrition in the country can equally be placed in an ethical

context. For instance, the principle of justice requires people to be fair to others by giving them

what they deserve. However, leaders have not done anything positive to the citizens, as they have

failed to tackle the issue of malnutrition (Inamahoro et al. 16). In particular, they are supposed to

concentrate their efforts on implementing policies that would increase food production in the

country. Non-maleficence, another ethical theory, states that one should always refrain from

directly or indirectly harming others. In Burundi, it is the opposite, as those in power perpetrate

civil conflicts that affect food production and consequently cause the problem of malnutrition.

Like non-maleficence and justice, the principle of rights reinforces the need to give to

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individuals what is due to them. According to this theory, the issue of malnutrition in Burundi

could be solved by economically and socially empowering the citizens (Inamahoro et al, 18). The

explanation is equally supported by the model of beneficence, which requires those in the

leadership to help the people achieve their needs including the eradication of poverty and

malnutrition. Therefore, based on utilitarianism, the government of Burundi needs to ensure that

all its projects and actions are geared towards causing general good for its people. It is only by

doing so that the issue of malnutrition can be successfully tackled.

Besides ethical, the issue of malnutrition in Burundi can equally be placed in social,

political, and economic contexts. Socially, the government and other concerned bodies need to

empower the citizens, especially women by showing them how cheaply they can acquire

nutritious foods for their families. Politically, the government is supposed to formulate policies

and initiate projects to increase food production in the country (Akombi et al. 55). Educating and

training the citizens on how to irrigate their farms, to prevent complete overreliance on rains, is a

good economic way to fighting food shortage and malnutrition in Burundi.

In conclusion, malnutrition is a serious issue in Burundi. A significant portion of the

country’s population is malnourished and suffering from conditions, such as anemia, marasmus,

and poor intellectual development. In line with the various theories of ethics, it is upon those in

leadership in Burundi to empower the citizens through education, training, and initiation of

projects that would increase food production.

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Works Cited

Akombi, Blessing J., et al. "Child Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis of

Demographic and Health Surveys (2006-2016)." PloS one, vol. 12, no. 5, 2017.

Cook, R. "The general nutritional problems of Africa." African Affairs, vol. 65, no. 261, 1966,

pp. 329-340

Global nutrion report. 2014 Nutrion Country Profile: Burundi,

http://www.globalnutritionreport.org/files/2014/11/gnr14_cp_burundi.pdf. Accessed 24

Jan. 2018.

Inamahoro, Chantal, et al. "Nutritional Recovery Outcome among Moderately Malnourished

Under-five Children in Communities Implementing Positive Deviance-Hearth or

Community Health Workers’ Nutrition Promotion Approaches in Karusi and Kirundo

Provinces, Burundi." Journal of Science and Sustainable Development, vol. 6, no. 1,

2017, pp. 5-18.

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