Volunteers under World Vision Malawi in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mazengera in Lilongwe District have intensified awareness campaign on good nutrition practices to beat stunting among under-five children.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Khoko Care Group lead mother Lucia Leonard said it was important for children to eat six food groups.
“We want children to grow healthy. In the past we had situations where some children were suffering from malnutrition due to unbalanced diet. We, therefore, go from house to house encouraging parents to prepare nutritious meals for their children,” she said.
Leonard said their routine house visitation led to Chifundo Jossam a mother from Nkhono Village whose child had lost weight.
“We advised her to take the child to the under-five clinic,” she said.
Jossam said the health surveillance assistant (HSA) diagnosed her child with malnutrition.
She said: “I received chiponde food supplement to feed my child. The care group members encouraged me to feed my child six food groups and to take her to under-five clinic monthly.
“Through their advice, my child gained weight and she is fine.”
In a related development, World Vision has constructed a health post in group village head Madzumbi to help children get services easily.
Jossam said the HSA offers under-five services under a tree and hoped that the health post will improve healthcare services.
The area’s HSA Reuben Banda said the facility will serve 4000 people, including those from neigbouring Dedza District.
“The village clinic will offer all under-five clinic and family planning services,” he said.
Banda encouraged mothers to breastfeed their children and go for under-five clinic services to avoid conditions such as stunted growth
