Kameme Area Nutrition Coordinating Committee chairperson Malizgani Chisule has urged people of Chitipa to consume six food groups to end malnutrition in the district.
In an interview on Thursday after a dialogue session with the area’s stakeholders and children on the sidelines of a nutrition campaign World Vision Malawi organised, he said the area is fertile for crop production.
Said Chisule: “The area has the potential to achieve the feat because we have all it takes to produce any type of food so that people can have the six food groups to end malnutrition.
“Right now, we can say we are improving in nutrition because in 2023, the area recorded about 40 malnourished children while in 2024, we registered 35 malnourished under-five children.”
On her part, group village head Kameme said there was need to step up the awareness campaign to end malnutrition in the area by 2027.
One of the children, Colleta, 15, said there is need to engage parents and community leaders to establish backyard gardens and orchards and rear animals to achieve nutrition security at household level.
In a separate interview, World Vision Chitipa district manager Hendrix Kalanje said the nutrition dialogues are part of World Vision’s Enough Campaign designed to ensure that every child has access to sufficient food to thrive.
He said: “This campaign will run from 2024 to 2026 and it aligns with Sustainable Development Goal Number Two which aims to end child hunger and malnutrition.
“The initiative also aims to create a platform for children to express their views on hunger and malnutrition. It seeks to find lasting solutions to combat issues affecting children.”
Kalanje said through the dialogue sessions, they expect children and stakeholders to present concerns and recommendations to policymakers and practitioners.
