World Relief introduces nutritional project in Nkhatabay
World Relief has rolled out a nutritional project in Nkhatabay District to fight stunted growth among children which is currently at 33 percent in the district.
Introducing the project dubbed ‘Chiyambi Chabwino’ to the District Executive Committee (DEC) members Friday, Project Coordinator, Desire Mwasikakata Mkandawire said stunted growth results in permanent irreversible negative outcomes that impact on the life of the child.
“There is work to do to end stunting in Nkhatabay District as current statistics indicate that stunted growth is at 33 percent compared to national statistics of 37 percent,” she said.
Apart from Nkhatabay, the project is being implemented in Lilongwe and Dowa districts. It started in May 2017 and will run up to December, 2020 with funding from UNICEF.
“Deliberate focus will be on the first 1000 special days to reduce stunting because 2015 Malawi Demographic Health Survey (MDHS) has revealed that nearly half of children under five years of age in Malawi are chronically malnourished as measured by stunting rates which is at 37 percent,” Mkandawire said.
“The overall objective of the project is to reduce stunting in children of 0-23 months age group by at least 2 percent annually from June, 2017 to December, 2020,” she added.
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