End malnutrition in Malawi: Candidates asked to sign nutrition pact
The Civil Society Organisation Nutrition Alliance (CSONA) on Friday called upon current and prospective leaders in Malawi to support efforts to end malnutrition in the country.
CSONA representative Tisungane Zimpita told journalists in the capital Lilongwe that the organisation has taken the advantage of the elections which the country is conducting to request leaders of political parties to commit themselves to improve nutrition status of the country.
“We are calling upon all aspiring presidential and parliamentary candidates to sign a pledge where they will promise to put nutrition as one of the priorities in their national agendas,” she said.
She further said the organisation want to make sure that strong nutrition pledges are made by running candidates and also push for transparent and ensure that commitments are and will be delivered once they are voted into office.
Zimpita observed that the consequences of malnutrition in the country are irreversible. If the current momentum of tackling malnutrition is not maintained and increased, the country risks losing a generation of the whole productive citizens.
Concern Worldwide Assistant Country Director Gwyneth Cotes said good nutrition is the foundation for health and development of all human beings, young, old, rich or poor.
“Improvements in nutrition are an essential requirement of advancing development beyond 2015Millenium Development Goals,” she said.
Therefore, she said, there is need to raise awareness on the importance of nutrition in achieving the post 2015 agenda as well as requesting leaders to commit themselves to issues of nutrition in the country.
Malawi is one of the countries with highest malnutrition levels in the world standing at 47 per cent.
CSONA is local civil society network which is strengthening the role of civil society in Malawi to take the leading role in influencing and supporting national nutrition efforts through meaningful dialogue and advocacy.
