PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN, partners launch new children's project in Malawi
New York, US (PANA) - The UN and its partners on Wednesday launched a new project in Malawi to tackle stunting, which affects nearly one million children under the age of five in the southern African nation.
The stunting prevention project is supported by the Malawi Government, as well as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and other members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative. It is funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) at a cost of US$10 million.
A UN statement obtained by PANA in New York, said that the project would be carried out in Ntchisi district in Malawi’s central region and would reach 66,000 mothers and children over three-and-a-half years of age.
The project is designed to reduce stunting in the district by 5 to 10 per cent as well as build evidence for the best ways of tackling the problem, which is mainly due to recurrent food insecurity, poor dietary diversity and repeated illness.
Malawi’s food security is currently deteriorating following low crop production as a result of long dry spells and floods and high food prices.
"Now, during the height of the lean season, the months before March when the next harvest is due, WFP is providing food assistance to more than 1.8 million Malawians," the statement said.
It said evidence showed the potential to make the greatest difference in the lives of children lay in the crucial 1,000 days between conception and two years of age.
The project complements the global SUN initiative established in 2010 to accelerate global progress on under-nutrition and particularly on preventing stunting.
Malawi was the world’s first country to launch SUN and the 1,000 Special Days initiative in 2011.
WFP Representative in Malawi, Ms. Coco Ushiyama said WFP’s focus on prevention of stunting through right food at the right time and beyond was "very exciting".
"Through strong partnerships, multi-sector engagement, a strong evidence-based approach and IT (information technology), we want to show the world that we can and must address stunting," she said.
The project involves 13 core nutrition interventions including the provision of complementary feeding, the management of acute malnutrition and safe hygiene practices.
A specialized, ready-to-use product, Nutributter, will be provided to all registered children aged 6 to 23 months.
-0- PANA AA/MA 22Jan2014
The stunting prevention project is supported by the Malawi Government, as well as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and other members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative. It is funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) at a cost of US$10 million.
A UN statement obtained by PANA in New York, said that the project would be carried out in Ntchisi district in Malawi’s central region and would reach 66,000 mothers and children over three-and-a-half years of age.
The project is designed to reduce stunting in the district by 5 to 10 per cent as well as build evidence for the best ways of tackling the problem, which is mainly due to recurrent food insecurity, poor dietary diversity and repeated illness.
Malawi’s food security is currently deteriorating following low crop production as a result of long dry spells and floods and high food prices.
"Now, during the height of the lean season, the months before March when the next harvest is due, WFP is providing food assistance to more than 1.8 million Malawians," the statement said.
It said evidence showed the potential to make the greatest difference in the lives of children lay in the crucial 1,000 days between conception and two years of age.
The project complements the global SUN initiative established in 2010 to accelerate global progress on under-nutrition and particularly on preventing stunting.
Malawi was the world’s first country to launch SUN and the 1,000 Special Days initiative in 2011.
WFP Representative in Malawi, Ms. Coco Ushiyama said WFP’s focus on prevention of stunting through right food at the right time and beyond was "very exciting".
"Through strong partnerships, multi-sector engagement, a strong evidence-based approach and IT (information technology), we want to show the world that we can and must address stunting," she said.
The project involves 13 core nutrition interventions including the provision of complementary feeding, the management of acute malnutrition and safe hygiene practices.
A specialized, ready-to-use product, Nutributter, will be provided to all registered children aged 6 to 23 months.
-0- PANA AA/MA 22Jan2014
