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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is the Education Report. |
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A new study shows that child hunger |
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costs Ethiopia billions of dollars a year |
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in economic losses. |
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The research showed that in 2009, |
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the country lost an estimated $4.7 billion |
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because its children do not get enough to eat, |
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that is equal to 16.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. |
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The report says poor nutrition has slowed growth |
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and development in two of every five children in Ethiopia, |
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and it says 80 percent of malnourished children |
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do not get treatments. |
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The African Union Commission, |
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the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) |
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and Ethiopian government agencies did the study. |
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The research shows that malnutrition |
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causes more than 20 percent of child deaths in Ethiopia. |
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And the report notes that the deaths have reduced |
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the number of working people in the country by eight percent. |
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Elizabeth Byrs is a World Food Program official. |
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"The study estimates that Ethiopia |
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could reduce losses by $12.5 billion by 2025, |
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if it reduces underweight rates |
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to five percent and stunting to 10 percent." |
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The report says under developed or stunted children |
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in early education repeat grades more than non-stunted children. |
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In addition, stunted children in Ethiopia |
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are more likely to drop out of school, |
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meaning they will end their education before it is completed. |
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Mrs Byrs said the effects of stunting do not end with childhood. |
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Instead, she said, stunting remains a life-long problem. |
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She said it affects both those who suffer from it, |
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and the larger society. |
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The report says nearly 70 percent of adults in Ethiopia |
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have suffered from stunting as children. |
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It says this means more than 26 million people of working age |
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have not been able to reach their potential. |
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The report notes that adults who were stunted as children |
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are less likely to have jobs that require a lot of physical labor, |
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because they generally are smaller. |
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It says this results in earnings losses. |
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Mrs Byrs said the Ethiopian government recently launched |
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a half-billion dollar National Nutrition Program, |
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because the effects of the malnutrition are so severe. |
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She said the government's program would provide food |
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and vitamins to young children from birth through age 5. |
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She said the goal is to prevent stunting |
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during the first 1,000 days of life. |
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Mrs Byrs also said the program will increase school feeding programs. |
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She said support programs for pregnant and breast-feeding women |
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will be developed in health centers and hospitals. |
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And that's the Education Report from VOA Learning English, |
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I'm June Simms. |