WHO Raises Alarm as 2.7 Billion People Struggle to Afford Healthy Food

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over the global food and nutrition crisis, revealing that nearly 2.7 billion people worldwide are unable to afford a healthy diet.

The development highlights the growing challenge of food affordability, as millions of households continue to struggle with rising food prices, economic hardship and limited access to nutritious meals.

The inability to afford a healthy diet has become a major concern for public health experts, who warn that poor nutrition can increase the risk of various health conditions and contribute to different forms of malnutrition.

Vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women and low-income households, are particularly affected by the high cost of nutritious food. For many families, rising food prices have forced them to reduce the quantity and quality of food they consume.

In many developing countries, including those across Africa, the situation has been compounded by climate change, conflicts, economic instability and disruptions in food supply chains. These challenges have affected agricultural production and contributed to higher prices of essential food commodities.

Health experts have continued to call for urgent measures to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible to vulnerable populations.

They have also urged governments and relevant stakeholders to invest in sustainable agriculture, strengthen food production systems and improve food distribution networks.

According to experts, addressing food insecurity requires more than increasing food production. They stressed the need to ensure that people have the economic means to access balanced diets throughout the year.

The WHO has also emphasised the importance of building resilient food systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental shocks while ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food.

Stakeholders have called for stronger collaboration among governments, international organisations, development partners and the private sector to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition.

The growing number of people unable to afford healthy food underscores the urgent need for policies that address food inflation, support vulnerable households and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Experts warn that without coordinated action, the rising cost of nutritious food could continue to deepen global health inequalities and undermine efforts to achieve food security and improve public health.