The number of child deaths linked to malnutrition in the Omaheke Region has dropped.
The region recorded 40 deaths between April 2023 and March 2024, dropping to 19 between March 2025 and March 2026.
Malnutrition mostly affects children between six months and five years.
The decline in malnutrition-related deaths is attributed to targeted initiatives aimed at reducing malnutrition across the region.
Governor of the Omaheke Region, Pijoo Nganate states, "In 2023 our region faced one of the most difficult realities in recent history. As leaders, we are confronted by rising cases of malnutrition; we saw the devastating impact that hunger was having on children, families, and communities. We receive reports that no leader ever wants to receive. We witness first-hand the effects of food insecurity. On some of our most vulnerable citizens, the children."
The region continues to strengthen its efforts to combat malnutrition through initiatives such as Farm Nuwe Hoop, which translates to "Farm of New Hope".
The project, established by Omaheke Governor Nganate, aims to improve food security and help eradicate malnutrition by producing vegetables and livestock to support vulnerable communities.
The initiative has also attracted support from various stakeholders who have joined the region's efforts to fight malnutrition and improve food security.
The latest contribution came from Swakop Uranium, which donated three million dollars towards upgrading the farm's infrastructure and increasing its livestock.
Nganate thanked the company for its continued support, saying the investment goes beyond developing the farm and will have a lasting impact on the lives of people across the region.
"Thank you for being on this journey with us over the past three years; your investment in Farm Nuwe Hoop is an investment in people of Omaheke, it is an investment in food security, in early childhood development, it's about youth empowerment, and it's about the future of our region."
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, in a message read by his Executive Director, Petrus Sindimba, stressed that the true measure of the initiative will be its long-term impact on the lives of people in the Omaheke Region through improved food security, sustainable livelihoods, and opportunities for future generations.
"The success of this initiative will not be measured solely by today's ceremony. Rather, it will be measured by the lively goods it creates. The food it produces and the opportunity it generates in the years to come. In the long term, success requires commitment, accountability, sound management, and active community participation."