The New Face of Hunger in Mauritius
In the neighborhoods of Mauritius, the statistics reveal a troubling truth. Families are not starving, but they are not eating well anymore. This observation raises questions about the effectiveness of the current food aid model.
On the table sits a plate that is not empty. It contains rice, bread, and starchy foods—enough to satisfy hunger temporarily, enough to create an illusion. But upon closer inspection, where is the fish? Where are the fresh vegetables, the eggs, the legumes? What Mauritian households experience in silence in their kitchens has been labeled by science as hidden hunger. Not famine, but something more insidious, more difficult to name, and therefore harder to combat.
What No To Poverty observes daily on the ground is confirmed by the Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2022: Mauritius does not suffer from visible food shortages. Instead, it suffers from silent malnutrition that progresses quietly, even in middle-income families whose purchasing power has gradually collapsed under the burden of high living costs. "Proteins—fish, chicken, eggs—are consumed far less frequently than before," explains Jamil Dookhee, coordinator of No To Poverty. "They are being replaced by large quantities of starchy foods. We see a simplification of meals: less diversity, fewer vegetables, fewer fresh foods."
The consequences are not invisible to those who know how to interpret them. Chronic fatigue, lack of energy, and concentration difficulties in children. Worsening diabetes and hypertension. Subtle signals that are too easily attributed to daily stress or fatigue. "Savedir vant plin, me lekor pa nouri." This phrase from Jamil Dookhee summarizes, better than any graph, the reality of an island that believes it is safe because its inhabitants are not starving.
The responsibility for this paradox is partly systemic. The current food aid system relies mainly on subsidized products: rice, flour, oil. Carbohydrates that alleviate immediate hunger but do not meet actual nutritional needs. Visible hunger is avoided, but malnutrition is not addressed. "A diet primarily based on carbohydrates can satisfy immediate hunger, but it does not ensure good health," insists the coordinator. Without sufficient intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals, the body operates in a degraded mode. In the long term, this deficit exacerbates the chronic diseases that Mauritius is already struggling to combat.
Therefore, No To Poverty calls for a rethinking of what constitutes essential products. It should no longer be defined solely by price or availability but by nutritional value. The NGO demands subsidies for eggs, legumes, local fish, and certain dairy products, and requests that all subsidized products be enriched with iron and essential vitamins. This demand takes on a particular resonance when considering fish and the paradox it embodies.
Mauritius is an island. It is surrounded by a generous ocean, a sea that has nourished generations. Yet, fish has become a luxury. "Nou pa kapav krwar ki nou ena lamer, me nou pa kapav manz pwason." Marine resources are overexploited, partly due to illegal fishing, and a significant portion of production is directed towards export. In response to this waste, No To Poverty proposes a concrete solution: confiscate illegal fishing boats and reintegrate them into blue economy programs or professional reintegration schemes. Returning to the island what the sea owes it.
Regarding protein vouchers, often touted as a quick fix, the NGO is categorical: "Don kash ouswa koupon pa pou rezoud problem lor long term." Distributing purchasing power without addressing prices and production merely treats the symptom while ignoring the disease. The real solution, according to Jamil Dookhee, lies in food autonomy. Home gardening and rooftop gardening, already tested with vulnerable families, show concrete results. The NGO urges the government to convert unused public buildings into training and food empowerment centers, where families would learn to produce their own nutrient-rich food.
This moment is pivotal. We must shift from a model of dependency on food aid to one based on local, sustainable, and autonomous production. "Enn lepep an bonn sante vedir enn pei avek enn lekonomi pli for ek dirab." The equation is simple. The political choices it demands, however, require courage.
A Deeper Malady
In the healthcare sector, flaws exist even in the management of vitamin supplements, according to Jamil Dookhee. Some diabetic patients treated with metformin are at an increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, a recognized side effect of this medication. However, Jamil Dookhee points out that the B vitamin complexes distributed to patients often do not contain this specific vitamin.
"This means that the treatment does not correct the deficiency caused by the medication and could even, in the long term, worsen the health status of patients," he states. For him, hidden hunger is not solely a matter of financial means, but also a lack of rigor in the management and medical follow-up of patients.