Address malnutrition, CSO tells M’Mbelwa Council
Civil Society Organisations Nutrition Alliance has asked the M’Mbelwa District Council to include nutrition when formulating the 2023-2030 District Development Plan (DDP) and Social Economic Profile (SEP).
Speaking on Friday during a meeting with council officials, the organisation’s programmes manager Joseph Gausi said the survey showed the last two council development policies did not highlight nutrition as a problem that needs to be addressed in the district.
“Our survey targeted the 2017-2022 SEP and DDP and revealed that nutrition was not highlighted as an issue to be championed in the district. This, however, contradicts records that 39 percent of children aged between six and 59 months are stunted,” he said.
Gausi asked the council to increase budgetary allocations to key nutrition sectors of Health, Education and Agriculture to improve nutrition.
M’Mbelwa District Council principal nutrition and HIV and Aids officer Frank Mfune said the call has come at the right time when the council is developing the next SEP and DDP.
“Mzimba is one of the districts with high stunting levels which means there is still work to do to address the situation,” he said.
With funding from Usaid, the organisation in collaboration with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources is implementing a five-year Nutrition for Health Project to scale up nutrition activities in the district.
