Food security challenges analyzed in Cuba

Havana, Oct 20.- Agencies of the United Nations System in Cuba and the National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM in Spansih), analyzed the challenges of food and nutritional security in the current context.

In a forum held to exchange opinions on these topics, the Vice Minister of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health, Carilda Peña, thanked the organizations present for their contribution in terms of knowledge, training and resources for this island, the Office of FAO in the Cuban capital.

The official called to take advantage of the activities for World Food Day – established on October 16, 1979 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – in order to raise awareness about food security and nutritional with a focus on health and efficient use of water.

For his part, the FAO representative in Cuba, Marcelo Resende, referred to some of the challenges in terms of food and nutritional security, taking as the basis of his presentation the promotion of public policies, the mobilization of resources and the use of statistics to decision making.

In that sense, the official emphasized the organization's commitment to accompanying the country in achieving food sovereignty.

The representative of the World Food Program (WFP), Etienne Labande, emphasized the importance of reflecting on World Food Day at the current time.

Highlighted the efforts of the United Nations to accompany the government in the search for mechanisms aimed at addressing the complex challenges of expanding the availability and access to food in the country and contributing to greater food security.

The United Nations Development Program Officer (UNDP) Aymara Hernández also participated in the meeting, who considered food security as an issue of health, well-being and of great relevance for economic and social development.

We work in an integrated manner to make knowledge, tools and efficient technologies available to the island, as well as contribute to the nutritional education of the population, she said.

Also participating were the Unicef-Cuba program officer, Odalys Rodríguez, and the Secretary of the National Commission for the implementation of the Food Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security Law (SSAN Law), Mayra Cruz. (Text and photo: PL)