Alliance Insurance Group has called on other corporate entities to join their fight against child malnutrition in Lesotho, having been supporting Baylor Children’s Clinic with fortified instant porridge for the past two years.
The group is seeking partners after realising it cannot make a meaningful impact alone, given the scale of the problem as Lesotho is said to have a staggering 36 percent malnutrition rate.
Speaking to journalists at a breakfast meeting this week, Alliance’s Head of Marketing, ‘Mareabetsoe Mabaleha, emphasised that malnutrition remains a significant challenge in the country especially among children.
The event was attended by representatives from the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Health, and Baylor Children’s Hospitals, who are leading experts in the fight against malnutrition.
“Last year, we reflected on the major issues affecting the country and decided to focus our corporate social investment (CSI) on children’s health in Lesotho,” Mabaleha said.
“Experts confirmed that many children suffer from malnutrition caused by hunger, poor living conditions, and medical conditions requiring specific diets.”
She added, “We discovered that providing the right nutrition is essential for children to adhere to medication and combat malnutrition, so we provided fortified meals containing multiple nutrients.”
Alliance’s meal support at Baylor has reached over 3,000 children, including pregnant teenagers, vulnerable youth, and some in correctional facilities. The fortified meal, which only requires water to prepare, contains a combination of vitamins and minerals crucial for physical development.
“Providing 3,000 packages is not enough when Lesotho has a 36 percent malnutrition rate. We want to collaborate with other corporations to support His Majesty King Letsie III in his efforts. We view this as a pandemic that will impact our future if not addressed now.”
When other companies join the initiative, they won’t just purchase nutritional meals but also help improve children’s livelihoods by supporting the production of fresh produce and providing other necessities to combat malnutrition.
Although Alliance Insurance Group has already purchased fortified food packages for this year, they recognise that most corporations may have already finalised their annual budgets.
They are seeking pledges of interest from companies that are willing to discuss various engagement options.
“Even if they cannot join this year, we want their commitment to participate in coming years so this initiative can grow,” Mabaleha added.
Among their potential partners, Alliance has earmarked the telecommunications companies, the banks, and corporations with health sector investments as part of their CSI programs.
Baylor Children’s Hospitals currently serve over 2 500 children aged 4-14 years. Of these, more than 240 suffer from mild malnutrition, over 440 from moderate malnutrition, and more than 60 from severe acute malnutrition.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports.
Started working at Newsday in 2021.
has an Associate Degree in Journalism and Media.
