Usakos child malnutrition rate spikes despite fewer cases

Usakos has recorded the Erongo region’s highest child malnutrition incidence rate over the past three years, driven by widespread poverty and systemic healthcare gaps.

This is despite recording fewer cases than the region’s larger districts.

Figures from the Erongo health directorate show that Usakos recorded a malnutrition incidence rate of 7.2% in 2024, 5.3% in 2025, and 4% between January and July this year.

The regional incidence rate stood at 3.7% in 2024, 3.9% in 2025, and 2.5% in the first seven months of this year.

Tuyenikelao Mwashekele, the chief health programme officer of the family health division at the Erongo Directorate of Health, says Usakos requires urgent attention because of the continued high malnutrition rate in relation to its smaller population.

“Usakos needs urgent attention as its cases remain high among a small population,” she says in a presentation on the region’s nutritional assessment from January 2024 to July 2026.

The district recorded 30 malnutrition admissions among children under five in 2024, 24 in 2025, and 11 between January and July 2026.

One child died from malnutrition in Usakos during the first seven months of this year. The district recorded four deaths in 2024 and two in 2025.

The presentation identifies Karibib, Hakhaseb and Otjimbingwe as malnutrition hotspots in the Usakos district.

Swakopmund recorded the highest number of malnutrition cases in the region in 2024 and 2026, with 535 and 221 cases, respectively, while Walvis Bay recorded 592 cases in 2025.

However, Usakos had the highest incidence rate during each of the three periods.

Mwashekele says malnutrition in the Erongo region is linked to several factors, including inadequate dietary intake, childhood illnesses, poor infant feeding practices, household poverty, and food insecurity.

Other challenges identified include poor sanitation and hygiene, limited nutrition education, limited access to health services, rising food prices and growing informal settlements.

The assessment also identifies gaps within the healthcare system, including limited supplies of special therapeutic formulas used to treat malnutrition, limited community outreach capacity, and a shortage of community health workers.

“There is no robust healthcare follow up (on malnutrition cases),” Mwashekele says.

The directorate has recommended increased recruitment of community health workers, improved transport for outreach services, and consistent nutrition education at health facilities and community gatherings.

The assessment further recommends that regional and local authorities support community gardens and drought-relief food programmes to assist vulnerable households.

Erongo’s 2024 Smart survey found that 26.6% of children in the region were stunted, a level classified as high by the World Health Organisation.

The survey also found that 25.6% of children experienced severe food poverty, while 44.2% experienced moderate food poverty.

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