Although it is a problem that is decreasing, poverty and food insecurity are two scourges that do not give way throughout the country and Bogotá is not immune to this reality, since figures from the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations, report that there are around 1.5 million people affected by this in the city.
In this sense, the towns of Kennedy (6), Suba (5), Bosa (2) and Fontibón (2); are those that present the highest levels of malnutrition, with 15 neighborhoods that have levels higher than 15% of child malnutrition. Generating several alert points for the authorities, since it is also an issue of public health that cannot be ignored if we want to continue closing social gaps.
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Taking into account realities like this and in order to contribute to food security and reduce child malnutrition in Bogotá, the “Bogotá Nutrition Mission” was launched last April in the town of Kennedy. This is a program that links the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor’s Office and business owners, who joined with donations.
Thanks to this, it was possible, in a first phase, to collect 18.5 tons of food. distributed free of charge, benefiting 1,080 girls and boys in Kennedy, from various foundations. Based on the good results, the companies are now joining forces to reach the town of Suba.
Hunger in Colombia
Ovidio Claros, president of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, explained that this area in the northwest of Bogotá was chosen because it has five of the neighborhoods with the highest levels of malnutrition, after Kennedy. This is the most populated locality in the city, with about 1,350,000 inhabitants (14.3% of the city’s population). According to figures from the District Secretariat for Social Integration, in 2021, more than 12 thousand girls and boys, between 0 and 13 years old, were living in extreme poverty.
“The beneficiaries in Suba will be around 1,000 girls and boys from 10 foundations such as: Together Hand in Hand Foundation for a Better Colombia; Giving with the Heart Foundation; Aunt Loren Social Foundation; Search and Rescue Foundation; Foundation for a Better Tomorrow; Colombia Chiquita Foundation; Light of the World Foundation; A Happy Land in Monte de Sion Foundation; Divine Missionaries Foundation Redemption – Fundir; Barranquilla Charity Association ABC – AMMA”, he explained.
Gabriel Camero, president of the Bogotá Red Cross, added that as a novelty, in addition to having more allies (Kellogs and Bimbo, among others), Phase 2 comes with a Technical Health Board, made up of the Santa Fe Foundation, Javesalud and Droguerías Dr Simi. All this, warning that those who want to join can do so without major setbacks.
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“According to figures from the commercial register of the CCB, the town of Suba, recognized “Due to its important commercial activity, it has more than 2 thousand potential food donor companies in neighborhoods with high malnutrition. In particular, in the five prioritized neighborhoods there are 877 companies and only one community kitchen,” said Camero.
The collaboration scheme proposed by the Bogotá Nutrition Mission promotes the activation of sustainable logistics solutions for the collection and redistribution of surplus food, promoting nutritional education, combating hunger and promoting responsible consumption practices in Bogotá.
Bogota
How to join?
On how to sign up for donations, Carolina Deik, first lady of the District, He said that the work that has been carried out is based on the principle of complementarity to promote schemes that add to existing programs in the area, such as Community Dining Halls, School Feeding Programs (PAE), Community Homes of the ICBF and the actions of the Food Bank, among others.
In this sense, he extended the invitation to “the community in general, individuals and companies, to visit the link https://www.cruzrojabogota.org.co/mision-nutricion-bogota and activate their cash donations so that through the recognized operation of the Red Cross in Bogotá and Cundinamarca, these foundations in Suba can be supplied with more and better food for the care and good nutrition of the girls and boys they represent.”
Among the logistical allies, in addition to the Red Cross, there were Rappi and DidiFood in the first phase. However, the organizers of this initiative stressed that the size of those who want to join does not matter, but the intention to fight poverty and hunger in Bogotá.
