Namibia will soon conduct a study to determine the level of malnutrition in the country. The study was launched in Windhoek Thursday aimed to fight stunting, especially among children aged five years, under the Combating of Hunger in Africa programme. Representatives of United Nations agencies in Namibia maintained that hunger in Africa affects mainly pregnant women and lactating mothers as well as children who get stunted. Launching the initiative, Minister for Economic Planning and National Planning Commission – NPC, Obeth Kandjoze said the study will help determine the economic and social consequences of hunger. His speech was read on his behalf by NPC Executive Director, Annely Haifene. Kandjoze said Namibia is determined to achieve a zero-hunger rate in the country and called for a multi-faceted approach to realised that. He stressed the need to invest more in nutrition in order to reduce hunger-related diseases and mortality. According to the 2013 National Demographic Survey, 24% of Namibian are stunted while the country only produces 43% of its own food consumption. The study, which jointly funded by the AU, NEPAD, the Economic Commission for Latin American Countries will commence early next year.