DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania is estimated to lose Tsh815bn ($512m) in
revenue yearly due to malnutrition which mainly decimates young
children. A recent survey shows that about 69% of the Tanzanian
children are anemic, 42% are stunted, 35% are iron deficient,
33% are vitamin A deficient and 16% are underweight. The survey
further said over 600,000 children aged below the age of five
years are estimated to have died as a result of inadequate
nutrition.Due to this, the survey come out with a new economic
setback which shows that vitamin and mineral deficiencies cost
over Tsh815bn ($512m) per year, which is equivalent to 2.65% of
the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Tanzania Food
and Nutrition Centre (TFNC)'s Director of Community Health and
Nutrition, Dr Sabas Kimboka told East African Business Week
during the TFNC's media orientation seminar on Food
Fortification that malnutrition contributes to 130 children
deaths in Tanzania every day. Kimboka said micronutrient
malnutrition, or the deficiency of a spe