Salima District Pledges Increased Funding to Combat Malnutrition
Malnutrition remains a significant challenge in Malawi, with adverse effects on child growth, development, and overall health outcomes.
SALIMA, Malawi— The Salima District Council has committed to increasing funding for nutrition initiatives to tackle high levels of malnutrition in the area, writes Alinafe Jimmy Mkwezalamba.
The pledge was made during a budget analysis meeting organized by the Civil Society Organization Nutrition Alliance (CSONA) under the Nutrition for Health project, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Eric Kenamu, the district's director of planning and development, acknowledged that the current allocation of 1.5% of the budget for nutrition is insufficient.
"We recognize that 1.5% is not enough, and we are committed to increasing this allocation to reach the recommended 5% target," Kenamu stated.
In a notable move, the district has allocated 11 million kwacha (about $12,000) to nutrition in the health sector for the first time. Additionally, Salima is becoming the first district to recruit frontline workers in nutrition.
Joseph Kandiyesa, Chairperson of the Salima CSONA Chapter, emphasized the importance of prioritizing nutrition to combat malnutrition effectively.
"It's time for us to take nutrition seriously and allocate sufficient resources to address this critical issue," he said.
The Nutrition for Health project is being implemented in collaboration with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, funded by USAID.
The budget analysis findings presented during the meeting highlighted the need for increased investment in nutrition to address the high levels of malnutrition plaguing the district.
Malnutrition remains a significant challenge in Malawi, with adverse effects on child growth, development, and overall health outcomes.
Increased funding for nutrition initiatives, such as supplementary feeding programs and community education, is crucial in combating this issue.