Dissemination Of The National Multi – Sectoral Nutrition Policy Starts
As the United Nation (UN) is committed to continue contributing efforts towards reducing malnutrition in Malawi, Malawi government through the ministry of health under the nutrition and HIV and AIDS department has started disseminating the National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition policy document in all district councils after its launch on June 20 2018 by Madam Gertrude Munthalika.
This was revealed during the District Executive committee (DEC) meeting held at Salima agriculture conference room in the district
In an interview Principle Nutrition Officer from the Department of Nutrition and HIV and AIDS Hilda Kuweluza said the document is to help the implementation of nutrition in Malawi.
“All projects relating to nutrition issues are expected to be guided with the document as assumed during the launch” Hilda added.
The policy which runs from 2018 – 2022 hand round to transmit the national focus on nutrition indoctrination and to realign the national nutrition priorities with the development plan.
According to the quoted report by the United Nation, During the launch, the United Nations pledged to continue supporting evidence-based and high-impact nutrition-specific as well as nutrition-sensitive actions at scale, through an justice approach, ensuring that no one is left behind, especially the most vulnerable, including children, women and adolescents.
“We will continue working together for effective support and align our actions in-line with the National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Policy and respective strategies in collaboration with the Government of Malawi, Development Partners, NGOs and the private sector,” stated UNICEF Deputy Representative Roisin De Burca.
Malawi has reduced stunting from 55 percent in 1995 to 37 percent in 2016, wasting from 6 percent in 2014 to 1.3 percent in 2018, and achieved significant reduction in Vitamin A deficiency from 59 percent in 2001 to 3.6 percent in 2016.
De Burca said this is also an indication that investments in nutrition are paying off.
The policy serves as a guiding document for national nutrition stakeholders, including government and development partners to promote evidence-based programming and strengthening of the national nutrition response, scale-up of evidence-based innovative interventions, re-alignment of nutrition interventions to the current national development strategy, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other new global declarations, which the government has signed.
The Policy provides the framework and context within which sectoral and other strategic plans and budgets should be coordinated, formulated, implemented and monitored.
