Communities hail nutrition project

People of Traditional Authority Nkukula in Dowa have commended nutrition interventions being implemented by World Relief, saying more under-five children now eat six-food groups.

Group village head Njolomole said this on Saturday during a media tour Oxfam in Malawi organised to Chalanda Village to appreciate nutrition interventions being implemented in the district.

“People did not know that they can use locally available foodstuffs to prepare nutritious food,” he said.

Njolomole also said the nutrition project encouraged people to raise chickens and rabbits.

Chalanda Village nutrition promoter Elitina Dziwitsani said the communities responded favourably to the project.

“Men also take part in ensuring that children and expectant mothers eat nutritious food,” she said.

Dowa District nutrition and HIV officer Noel Chikumbu said there was need to scale up nutrition interventions in the district.

He said: “I am pleased that stakeholders are working closely with the council to promote nutrition.

“We encourage households to have backyard gardens to plant vegetables to supplement their food supplies.”

Oxfam in Malawi nutrition and livelihoods resilience officer Lorrette Gumbo said they want Dowa District Council to increase budget allocation towards the nutrition sector.

She said they gave the council information education communication material to sensitise community members to the importance of demanding increased budgetary allocation to the nutrition sector.

“Policy and decision-makers should hear from people on what needs to be done to deal with issues of stunting and malnutrition,” said Gumbo.

With funding from GIZ, Oxfam in Malawi is implementing an Increasing Resources Allocation and Accountability Towards Nutrition Sector Project in Dowa, Dedza and Salima districts.