Salima engages journalists in fight against malnutrition

Salima District Council has established a media network on nutrition to scale up the fight against malnutrition in the district.

Speaking during a meeting with journalists yesterday at the council’s Nutrition Unit, Salima district acting director of community and social services Chifundo Manong’a said low adoption of nutritional practices remains a challenge in the district.

He said: “We need urgent action and collaboration between the media and the nutrition office to disseminate the right data and raise awareness on the benefits of communities adopting nutritional practices such as eating six food groups.”

Manong’a said it was high time people regarded nutrition as a development issue because malnourished people cannot contribute to the development of their areas.

“We have set up strategies to scale up the adoption of nutrition practices such as frequent media engagement and recruitment of nutrition assistants who will be deployed at district level to address nutritional issues,” he said.

Chisomo Radio station manager Jean Chilombo said the media network is a good initiative for information sharing.

She said journalists need understanding of issues for them to report accurately on the same.

“I am optimistic that this network will enhance collaboration and coordination between the media, the community and officers at the nutrition unit,” said Chilombo.

Salima District Information Office with support from GIZ will coordinate the activities of the network.

Among others, journalists will write stories to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children and prepare nutritious meals using locally available resources