Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (Creccom) has urged people in Senior Chief Mwakaboko in Karonga District to continue observing Covid-19 preventive measures and get vaccinated to boost their immunity.
The organisation’s project officer Chikumbutso Chikuni made the call on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional and faith leaders aimed at encouraging them to scale up nutrition activities and the observance of Covid-19 preventive measures.
“While we are fighting the global pandemic which has negatively affected the world’s economy, we decided to include nutrition initiative to fight stunting in the district,” he said.
Chikuni said the leaders are instrumental in the fight against Covid-19 and stunting because they have influence over their followers.
He said: “They can convince people to observe Covid-19 measures and to get vaccinated.
“Again, they can encourage their followers to eat six food groups to beat malnutrition.”
Group village head Mwangulukulu assured Creccom that they will encourage their subjects to observe Covid-19 measures.
He said: “As a border district, we will not relent on observing Covid-19 preventive measures.
“Again, we will embrace the nutrition initiative and ask parents to prepare nutritious food for their under-five children to fight stunting.”
On his part, Reverend Father Chimwemwe Munthali of St Paul’s Anglican Church at Songwe Border, described the meeting as fruitful, saying as a church they depend on healthy people to participate in church activities to develop the nation spiritually, socially and economically.
In an interview, Karonga District Nutrition Coordinating Committee member Edgar Phiri said the committee is pleased with Creccom’s initiatives on Covid-19 and nutrition.
With funding from Unicef, Creccom is implementing Demand for Continuity of Essential Health Care Services, Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccines and Strengthening Feedback Mechanisms on Covid-19 Response in 10 districts, including Karonga.
