Salima District Health Urged to Prioritize Nutrition Funding for Hospitals
Budget analysis reveals Salima's health sector has allocated no funds for nutrition, prompting calls for urgent action to address the issue.
SALIMA, Malawi – The Salima district health management team (DHMT) has received a critical recommendation to secure additional funds to improve hospital nutrition following a budget analysis that uncovered the absence of any allocation for nutrition within the district's health sector, writes Alinafe Mkwezalamba.
The budget analysis, conducted by the Civil Society Organizations Nutrition Alliance (CSONA) in collaboration with the district nutrition consultative committee (DNCC), was presented to the DHMT.
It highlighted several key findings, including the allocation of MK1.4 billion towards Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in the 2023–24 council budget—an increase of 16.7% from the previous year.
Furthermore, MK3.6 billion was allocated to development projects, sourced through various funds.
However, the analysis revealed a concerning disparity when it came to nutrition funding.
Within the ORT budget, only MK23.3 million, representing a mere 1.5% of the ORT budget, was allocated to nutrition.
Of this allocation, MK6.5 million was designated for the office of the Principle Nutrition and HIV and AIDS Office (PNHAO) through the costing centre.
In terms of education, the School Health and Nutrition Programme received MK13 million, surpassing the recommended 2% allocation threshold set by the SHN policy.
This funding aims to support initiatives that enhance the health and cognitive development of learners in 11 government-supported schools.
However, it should be noted that 52 schools receive support from development partners, while 102 schools remain unsupported.
The budget analysis shed light on the glaring absence of resources allocated to nutrition within Salima's health sector.
Kettie Sambani, the monitoring and evaluation officer for CSONA, expressed concern over this issue.
She stated, "The health sector in Salima did not allocate any resources towards nutrition despite the reduced prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, and other forms of malnutrition in the district."
Sambani further emphasised the economic impact of malnutrition, highlighting that approximately 30–70% of healthcare costs are associated with malnutrition, and 32% of mortality rates in Malawi are attributed to it.
She also noted that 18% of school repetitions and 23% of deaths among children under five are caused by malnutrition.
The Cost of Hunger Study estimated that Malawi loses approximately $597 million in productivity due to malnutrition.
In response to these findings, McDonald Mtengula, speaking on behalf of the district's PNHAO, stressed the importance of recognising nutrition as a catalyst for achieving development goals.
Mtengula urged the inclusion of clear indicators and activities targeting nutrition in the district's work plans and budgets to unlock financial support for nutrition across key sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and the office of PNHAO.
Felistace Mtande, a registered clinical dietitian, called on the DHMT to consider recruiting a dietician for the hospital.
Mtande highlighted the importance of having a qualified professional who can combine dietary expertise with clinical knowledge to save lives that are being lost due to poor nutrition.
In response to the analysis and call to action, Eugene Kapenga Kaunda, Salima's Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), assured stakeholders that they take the findings seriously and will take the necessary steps to improve patient welfare.
This call to action and examination of nutrition funding in Salima is a result of the Nutrition for Health (N4H) project.
N4H, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is being implemented by the Civil Society Organizations Nutrition Alliance (CSONA) in collaboration with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).
The primary objectives of N4H include increased nutrition financing and the adoption of dietetics within the mainstream medical circles of district hospitals across the country.