M’Mbelwa District Council principal nutrition, HIV and Aids officer Patrick Manyowa has commended non-governmental organisations (NGOs) implementing nutrition programmes in Mzimba District.

Speaking on Monday during a media tour to appreciate the interventions, he said the programmes implemented by Save the Children, Feed the Children, Foundation for Community Support Services, International Support and Partnership for Health, Collabath and Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) through Afikepo, sought to address stunting and malnutrition among children in childcare centres and communities.

Simkonda (L) gives a volunteer a bicycle

“The NGOs facilitate the provision of porridge in community-based childcare centres [CBCCs]. Also FAO through Afikepo Project has been providing seeds to farmers to grow different crops such as maize and soya to feed children in CBCCs,” said Manyowa.

He further commended the NGOs for encouraging farmers to embrace modern farming practices.

Care group promoter Ruth Hara from Mulafitwa Care Group at Mbozo in Ehelhlen, Traditional Authority Mzikubola, said through the NGOs children were now eating six food groups.

“When we started implementing the programmes in 2020, there were 10 children suffering from malnutrition in our area but now there are no cases,” she said.

Feed the Children officer Rudo Mtemwende said they provide Vita Meal packs for making porridge in CBCCs to ensure children do not go hungry and to fight stunting and malnutrition.

M’Mbelwa District Council nutrition officer Gift Simkonda thanked the council for donating bicycles to care group members.

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