insert_link Interview Transcripts Interview: High Sugar Consumption in Baby Foods Sparks Health Alarm Photo: NAFSAN Windhoek, Namibia — The Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN) has raised urgent concerns about the rising consumption of sugar, particularly among young children, in an interview with director Ben Schernick. The issue, he says, goes beyond individual dietary preferences and has deep public health and economic implications. “One of our biggest concerns is the high level of sugar consumption, especially among children between the ages […] today15 December, 2025
insert_link Health / Medical Schernick Calls for Action on Sugar Consumption Ben Schernick, director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia warns that the government’s 2010 VAT exemption on white and brown sugar is effectively encouraging harmful sugar consumption. He emphasizes the need for legislation, company monitoring, and public awareness campaigns to address rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other sugar-related health problems. today15 December, 2025
insert_link Interview Transcripts Interview: Stunting in Children Rises to 30% – Nutrition Experts Call for Urgent Action The Ministry of Health, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, presented the results of the 2024 SMART survey last Friday, shedding light on the state of child nutrition across the country. The survey, conducted at the end of 2024, aimed to assess nutritional practices and measure the impact of malnutrition, particularly among children. Director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia, Ben […] today4 December, 2025
insert_link Health / Medical Child Stunting Rises to 30% The Ministry of Health, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, has released the 2024 SMART survey on child nutrition. Director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance, Ben Schernick, revealed that stunting rates, a measure of chronic malnutrition, have increased from 24% in 2012 to almost 30% in 2024, highlighting growing concerns over children’s health and development. today4 December, 2025
insert_link Interview Transcripts Interview: Ben Schernick Urges Government to Implement Universal Basic Income Grant By: Leonard Witbeen The Director of the Nutrition Alliance of Namibia, Ben Schernick, has called on the government to reconsider its approach to social protection, arguing that targeted grants are inefficient and fragmented. His remarks come in response to Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s commitment to increasing social protection investments. Schernick highlighted that Namibia’s current social grant system requires significant administrative effort and is prone to corruption. He advocates for a […] today17 February, 2025
insert_link Namibia Musutua Blasts Shiimi Over Poverty Crisis, Demands Universal Grant Activist Rinaani Musutua has taken aim at Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, accusing the government of continuously making empty promises while failing to tackle Namibia’s deepening poverty crisis. Musutua argues that the only viable solution is the implementation of a Universal Basic Income Grant, which she believes would provide meaningful financial relief to struggling citizens. In the interim, Ben Schernick, Director of the Nutrition Alliance of Namibia, has voiced concerns over […] today17 February, 2025
insert_link Namibia EXCLUSIVE: Namibia’s Path to Nourishment: Insights from Ben Schernick on Aili Angula’s Proposal In the realm of nutrition and food security, every initiative counts. As Namibia grapples with issues of malnutrition and food insecurity, the proposal put forth by Aili Angula, a presidential candidate, has sparked significant interest and debate. Ben Schernick, Director of the Namibia Nutrition and Food Alliance, shares his insights on Angula's suggestion for a universal basic income grant and its potential impact on the nation's well-being. Schernick, speaking […] today8 May, 2024
insert_link Namibia Nutrition Alliance Director Urges Collaboration with Government for Effective Intervention Ben Schernick, the director of the Nutrition And Food Alliance of Namibia, emphasizes the importance of supporting or collaborating with the government to implement nutrition interventions effectively. He stresses the need to bring together various sectors including health, education, agriculture, social protection, and gender to address nutrition challenges comprehensively. today6 May, 2024
insert_link Interview Transcripts EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Exploring the Nutrition Landscape: Insights from the Kenya Scaling Up Nutrition Event by Ben Schernick Ben Schernick, Director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia, recently participated in a significant regional gathering in Kenya. This event brought together various civil society alliances from across Eastern and Southern Africa to delve into issues surrounding nutrition under the umbrella of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement. Namibia has been a member of the Scaling Up Nutrition initiative since 2011, joining forces with around 65 other […] today18 April, 2024
