Continue fighting malnutrition—Ministry

Ministry of Health has urged stakeholders to continue fighting malnutrition, saying only a healthy population can participate in the development of the country.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary for Administration Bestone Chisamile said this on Friday in Lilongwe during the launch of the Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration Education and Empowerment (IGNIT3) project.

He said although the country has made strides in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal number two of ending all forms of malnutrition, the fight against malnutrition is not yet completely won.

“Current data shows that we reduced stunting prevalence rate among under-five children from 47 percent to 37 percent. We have also reduced wasting among under-five children from four to two percent, thereby meeting the global nutrition target on wasting,” said Chisamile.

He said these achievements are a clear indication that the investments the government is making in nutrition are paying off.

But Chisamile said even with the noted decline, continued efforts are needed to address the macronutrient deficiencies and the high rate of stunting.

“Additionally, zinc deficiency is an emerging public health concern affecting over 60 percent of the population, including under-five children and women of reproductive age group,” he said.

The project’s director Janet Guta said they want to address gaps in the provision of essential nutrition interventions to under-five children in hard-to-reach areas.

“Without resources and relevant capacity to go to hard-to-reach areas, there’s likely to be little change and improvement in nutrition outcomes,” she said.

Director for IGNIT3 project Dr. Kondwani Katundu, who is also a lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, said the project will transform nutrition healthcare by equipping various healthcare professionals through accredited online in-person modules, focusing on nutrition interventions for paediatric patients and the supply of medical nutrition products for sick children.

IGNIT3 is a five-year capacity building project which will be led by the Centre for Global Child Health in collaboration with Nutrition International and Water Aid.

The $20 million sustainable capacity building project, financially supported by the Government of Canada through the Global Affairs Canada, is expected to directly benefit 500 000 individuals in healthcare facilities, communities and education institutions in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan.