LUSAKA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zambia will not be able to attain the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal to reduce hunger to zero by 2030 unless nutrition levels are enhanced, a senior government official said Wednesday.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said the levels of malnutrition in the country were worrying and concerted efforts from all stakeholders were required.

In remarks delivered at a national nutrition conference, the official said Zambia was facing a triple challenge of malnutrition which includes undernutrition in the form of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies in the form of anemia and overnutrition in the form of overweight and obesity as well as diet-related non-communicable diseases.

She said the levels of stunting were unacceptably high at 35 percent while the level of reducing stunting has been slow, making it difficult for the country to attain the earmarked global target of stunting reduction to 25 percent by 2030.

"This trajectory of slow improvement means that attaining the United Nations' goal number 2, to achieve zero hunger by 2030 is not within our reach. Therefore, there is (a) need for more concerted and sustained efforts to change this picture," she said.

The official also said there was a need to have concrete actions to tackle all forms of malnutrition, adding that addressing socioeconomic development using the nutrition agenda remains high on the government agenda.

Beatrice Mutali, the UN resident coordinator, said the UN will support the Zambian government's responsibility for improving the food and nutrition of citizens. She said tackling malnutrition has wide-reaching consequences for improving health and working to end poverty, adding that effectively addressing malnutrition requires policy coherence and a multisectoral approach.

The UN representative, however, commended Zambia for steps taken in changing the nutrition landscape at the policy level. Enditem

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