Evidence Action country director Benson Botha has emphasised the importance of administering iron folic acid (IFA) to fight anaemia among school-going girls in Dedza District.
He said this on Wednesday when he briefed Dedza District Nutrition Coordinating Committee members on the IFA Supplementation Programme to run in the district.
Botha said they are supporting government in implementing the Integrated Deworming and IFA Supplementation Programme in Malawi.
He said they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ministries of Health, Education and Local Government, Unity and Culture to provide the supplements to learners.
“We will support Salima and Dedza district councils to implement IFA Supplementation Programme targeting school children aged between six and 12 and also adolescent girls aged between 13 and 19,” said Botha.
On her part, Ministry of Education chief nutrition, HIV and Aids officer Virginia Chipakula, who also attended the meeting, said the ministry welcomed the project.
She said anaemia was a big problem, especially among school children as well as adolescents.
“So, having a partner that will support us means we are reducing the impact of anaemia among leaners, one of which is absenteeism and poor performance in class,” said Chipakula.
She called on other well-wishers to come in and support other education districts, saying Evidence Action is doing so in 16 out of the country’s 34 education districts.
Dedza District Council principal nutrition, HIV and Aids officer Juliet Jinazali said the project will scale up the administration of IFA to girls both in schools and communities.
“We will ensure the initiative is a success and that more girls are enrolled in IFA Supplementation Programme,” she said.
The NGO first implemented the programme in Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, Ntchisi, Nkhotakota, Thyolo, Chiradzulu and Mulanje districts last year.
