The Mzimba North District Education Office has applauded United Nations (UN) funded Afikepo nutrition programme for rewarding performing nutrition structures in the district.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Mzimba North School Health and Nutrition Coordinator for the district Rachel Mziya said since the programme was introduced in the district, nutrition levels and pupil drop outs in schools have reduced and the rewarding of best performing structures will ensure that the messages continue to bear fruits.
Mziya was speaking after a District Nutrition Coordination Committee briefing which the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) held with the committee.
“We have just been briefed that best performing structures under Afikepo will be awarded. This will encourage communities to participate fully in nutrition activities in both communities and schools such as preparing meals for learners, growing crops intended for school Meals Program,” said Mziya.
According to Mziya, since the programmes inception, parents and learners are able to know, identify and prepare the six food groups from locally available resources.
“From when Afikepo started, we see that more learners are coming to school which means absenteeism number has been reduced. Punctuality is being observed and there has been improved grades as compared to the past when communities did not have nutrition education and structures,” she said.
Mziya however appealed for more incentives for mother group structures which take leading roles in nutrition activities in schools.
“It would be good if volunteer cooks who prepare learners’ meals were rewarded through giving incentives such as wrappers, T shirts and also rewarding outstanding schools in nutrition activities so that they get motivated and motivate others,” she said.
Mzimba North District Community Behavior Tracking Tool Officer for FAO, Stancerous Kamunga said the awarding of the community structures namely care groups, clusters, adolescent groups, village nutrition coordination committees (VNCCs), area nutrition coordination committees (ANCCs) at district level and district nutrition coordination committees (DNCCs)at national level, is part of the project’s exist strategy.
“As a district, we are progressing well in terms of response to nutrition messages and we are confident that by the time the project will be exiting, the communities will continue to carry on with message sharing and practicing nutrition conscious habits,” he said.
The winning cadres got feeding bowls and t-shirts for best household cluster, K3 million for a care group, K250,000 for VNCC, K3 million for ANCC and K1 million for outstanding adolescent group in TAs Chindi, Mtwalo, Mpherembe and Kampingo Sibande.
