By Ousman Kaliati:
German Agency for International Cooperation(GIZ) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Malawi is malnutrition-free.
GIZ Food and Nutrition Security Programme co- Team Leader Vitowe Batch said this when he, in the company of members of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, visited sites that have made strides in reducing cases of malnutrition.
“We will continue supporting efforts aimed at addressing problems associated with malnutrition in the country.
“For example, we are building the capacity of Malawi in infrastructure development and other aspects. What is needed is proper coordination so that, together, we can reduce malnutrition levels and eliminate the problem altogether. This is important because it will facilitate national development efforts,” Batch said.
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On his part, Salima District Commissioner James Mwenda hailed GIZ for working with stakeholders such as State and non-State actors in addressing one of the biggest problems besetting the lakeshore district.
“As a result, we are making strides in reducing levels of malnutrition,” Mwenda said.
Concurring with Mwenda, Parliamentary Committee on Health Chairperson Mathews Ngwale said the efforts of GIZ and Care Malawi— which is also implementing a project premised on ridding Salima of malnutrition— are good, in terms of reversing the damage caused by malnutrition.
“Good nutrition is one of the indicators of health. Only healthy people contribute positively to national development efforts.
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“We are saying nutrition is an important aspect of health because if we feed pregnant women and the baby, they become productive citizens and contribute fully to national development efforts,” Ngwale said.
GIZ is implementing the Food and Nutrition Security Project in collaboration with Care Malawi. The initiative is being implemented in Salima and Dedza districts.
