½ m² of sustainable fruit & vegetable cultivation for a family in Tanzania

Munifu is not an isolated case - she is one of many in her environment. Malnutrition among children is one of the biggest social and health problems in Tanzania. The situation has improved over the last 20 years, with the so-called Global Hunger Index falling from 40.8 (very serious) to 25 (serious) (Global Hunger Index, 2021). But this positive development primarily affects the big cities. In rural areas, there are still many malnourished and undernourished children. In Lindi, for example, malnutrition among children under 5 is 32%, and 10% are underweight (Artemed's own survey). Although babies are breastfed from birth, the quantity and quality of breast milk is not sufficient for them to grow and develop normally for their age. If a mother is not well nourished herself, there is not enough left for her offspring either. The result: the children are too small, too light and have language, motor and cognitive difficulties. The already weakened bodies are then much more susceptible to other diseases. This can be devastating, especially in a country with a high risk of malaria such as Tanzania (Global Nutrition Report, 2020). Short-term, targeted measures such as medical treatment usually only bring short-term improvement. In order to ensure long-term success, sustainable, high-quality and vitamin-rich food for children and their families must therefore be ensured.