Good nutrition critical for human development

Principal Nutrition, HIV and Aids Officer (PNHAO) for Balaka Ernest Kadzokoya has called on communities to be mindful of good nutrition uptake in their homes as it is critical for human development.

Kadzokoya said this at the end of a three day tour by Balaka District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) to their Nsanje counterparts to appreciate how nutrition interventions are carried out especially when a disaster strikes.

In an interview Kadzokoya said Balaka and Nsanje face similar challenges; floods and drought, hence the need to have the trip to see how people there manage the scaling up of nutrition even during disasters.

“We have seen here that the linkage between District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) and the nutrition cluster is strong during disasters. They participate in the initial assessments whenever disasters have occurred.

“We have also seen here that there are a number of partners supporting nutrition interventions and DNCC coordinates their interventions properly to ensure that there is no duplication as nutrition is critical for human development at all times,” said Kadzokoya.

He added that during the visit the grouping had noted that Nsanje care groups were vibrant and knowledgeable on what a care group is.

“There is male involvement in most of the care groups and local leaders participate in care group activities which are good when it comes to community participation,” said Kadzokoya.

Nickson Batumeo who is a lead parent from Jakalanda care group in Traditional Authority Tengani, hailed the care group model saying it has helped to lower malnutrition levels in the district.

“In the past, we used to see malnourished children, thanks to the care group model which in our case constitutes of pregnant, lactating mothers, fathers, and chiefs, who are critical as far as nutrition of a family is concerned,” he said.

Mana