Integrated Social and Allied Programme for Health has intensified efforts to scale up the uptake of six food groups among breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women and under-five children to beat malnutrition and stunting.
The initiative, which targets beneficiaries in Traditional Authority Chindi, will also promote food diversification and train mothers on how to prepare nutritious food using locally available resources.
On Saturday, the organisation in partnership with Mzimba District Nutrition Coordinating Committee supervised cooking demonstrations in T/A Chindi.
Speaking during the meeting, Integrated Social and Allied Programme for Health senior field coordinator John Banda emphasised the critical role of proper nutrition in early childhood development and maternal health.
“We encourage mothers to start eating and feeding children six food groups as we strive to address stunted growth and malnutrition,” he said.
Banda also encouraged mothers to consume nutrient-rich foods such as yellow maize, soya beans, common beans and
orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
“We are also promoting rearing of local chickens, which are resilient and can be raised without the need for expensive organic feed,” he said.
On her part, Tayamba Mother Care Group promoter Ellina Tina said mothers acquired skills on how to prepare nutritious meals.
“I urge my fellow women to grow different crops to ensure we have nutritious foodstuffs,” she said.
M’Mbelwa District Council nutrition officer Gift Simkonda expressed hope that the project will address malnutrition in Mzimba.
“The organisation has been involving us in various target areas where they are implementing the project. Today, we witnessed a cooking demonstration and we are pleased to see that mothers are adopting these skills,” he said.
The project is running with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency
