I cannot imagine a child making it through a school day on an empty stomach, but this is reality for over one third of primary age children in Kamuli Uganda.
When I was visiting Kamuli to undertake medical work, I found out that although primary education is free, the uptake is nowhere near 100%, and part of the reason for this is the lunch problem. One third of the children attending school are unable to bring money or food to school, and so go hungry during the day making it very difficult to stay awake, concentrate, work or be happy when they are hungry. Many will leave at midday or fall asleep. It is distressing for the teachers to be unable to give food to hungry children.