Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, joined the 2010 World Food Programme (WFP) “Walk the World to end Hunger” in Maseru on Sunday. The 7.8 kilometer walk started at Maseru Club via different streets of the city and ended at the club with speeches from different partners in the fight against hunger.
Speaking at the occasion, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for concerted efforts among citizens to eradicate poverty and hunger. He said the walk was a noble move intended to raise awareness on the levels of hunger across the globe, as well as to call all to join in the fight against hunger.
“I encourage individuals to save at least one meal per week in order to give that essential meal to the needy and the most vulnerable,” he said.
The Prime Minister promised that next year, cabinet ministers including principal secretaries will also walk with WFP in a bid to embrace the idea.
The WFP Country Director, Bhim Udas mentioned that hunger is the biggest human killer, saying everyday more and more people die in the world as a result of hunger.
In Lesotho, Udas alluded that 59, 000 people live below the poverty line, an indication that a large number of the population face poverty and hunger.
He appealed to the Basotho to use the arable land to produce food for themselves, expressing hope that now that the Land Bill has passed by the legislature, people will be offered necessary guidance.
To further show that hunger is a challenge, a Lesotho National Nutrition Survey (LNNS) report launched last year has identified stunting and malnutrition as major threats to child growth. It shows that malnutrition is the cause of 55 percent of all deaths concerning children under-five years in the country.
The walk is an annual global event observed in about 70 countries including Lesotho.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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