Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Matekane says Lesotho remains committed to advancing Africa's nutrition and food security agenda.

This he said while representing King Letsie III at the African Leaders for Nutrition High-Level Side Event during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa on Friday night.

The event which served as a critical platform for African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to addressing malnutrition and food insecurity across the continent.

He said that Lesotho is also committed to ensuring that policy commitments translate into real improvements in child nutrition, maternal health, and sustainable food systems.

"As we prepare for the upcoming Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, Africa must present a unified position to secure greater investment in nutrition and strengthen the continent’s resilience", he said.

He indicated that achieving sustainable development is only possible when every African has access to adequate and nutritious food saying it is time to move from commitments to decisive action.

Prime Minister Matekane emphasized the need for country-level implementation of continental nutrition targets, increased domestic financing for nutrition programs, integration of nutrition-sensitive interventions into agriculture, education, and healthcare policies as well as robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure progress.

Malnutrition remains one of Africa’s most pressing challenges, costing an estimated $153 billion annually in lost productivity and economic growth. Millions of children suffer from stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, limiting their potential and the long-term prosperity of our nations. Immediate action is required to reverse these trends.