Malnutrition haunts Nkhotakota

A survey Feed the Children Malawi conducted in Nkhotakota has shown that malnutrition remains a challenge in the district.

The report has since pegged stunting at 43 percent while being underweight and wasting are at 25.5 and 7.6 percent, respectively.

Presenting the findings  of the study  funded by the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) to Nkhotakota District  Council executive members, Feed the Children Malawi monitoring and evaluation officer Beauty Makause said the figures are alarming; hence, the need to reverse the trend.

“The situation requires us all to work together in bringing down the numbers,” she said, adding that her organisation is striving to reduce malnutrition in the hotspots.

Makause said the Tiwalere II Project her organisation is implementing is addressing the problem. She said the situation will improve soon.

Reacting to the findings, Nkhotakota District Nutrition Coordination Committee chairperson Derrick Mwenda said malnutrition is a serious problem in the lakeshore district.

In his remarks, district disability forum chairperson William Afaq pleaded with stakeholders to consider taking on board disability issues in the planning of their activities.

The study was also conducted in seven other districts, targeting a population of 1 767 and comprising under-five children, pregnant and lactating women and adolescents.

In Nkhotakota, the survey was conducted in northern half of the district targeting traditional authorities Kafuzira and Kanyenda. n