King Letsie III yesterday met with representatives from Nutrition International, a Canadian organisation dedicated to improving global nutrition, to discuss strategies for tackling malnutrition in Lesotho.
The meeting held at the Royal Palace underscored the urgency of addressing nutritional challenges in the country.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, Limpho Tau, highlighted Nutrition International’s work across 30 African nations, further emphasising its potential impact on Lesotho’s nutrition landscape.
During his recent visit to Canada, King Letsie III invited the organisation to conduct a thorough assessement of nutritional conditions in Lesotho.
This collaboration aims to unite efforts with the Food and Nutrition Coordination, which currently oversees nutritional policies and programmes in the nation.
The partnership also seeks to find ways of improving nutritional conditions and exploring alternative strategies that enhance both nutrition and food production in the country.
Furthermore, it will ensure that government policies align with modern-day nutritional needs, as well as integrate nutritional considerations across government departments and private sectors, fostering a holistic approach to ending malnutrition.
On her part, the Country Director of Nutrition International, Martha Nyagaya, noted the organisation’s commitment to eliminate malnutrition, particularly in children, which has been linked to poor academic performance.
“We envision a world where every child is free from malnutrition and can reach their full potential,” she said.
She indicated that this first visit by Nutrition International representatives is part of a broader scoping mission to identify key areas where the organisation can contribute effectively, aligning their efforts with the government’s priorities in nutrition.
With no existing nutrition programme in Lesotho, Nutrition International aims to fill critical gaps and develop systems that support impactful interventions.
