Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is using the care group model to address malnutrition in rural communities.
With more than 20 percent of children affected by malnutrition in the country, the situation is expected to worsen due to the impact of El Nino.
The care group model is a social behaviour change initiative that provides caregivers with messages and practical support on optimal infant and young child feeding methods, while also promoting income-generating activities such as chicken rearing.
The ministry is also distributing multiple-micronutrient powders to mothers and caregivers to fortify their food at home and prevent stunting.
The ministry recommends using locally available foods such as zviyo, mhunga, mapfunde porridge and legumes such as nyimo, nyemba and NUA45 beans to diversify diets and provide the necessary nutritious food.
The 2023-24 El Nino phenomenon, one of the strongest on record, is exacerbating already challenging conditions. El Nino has escalated regional climate patterns, causing dry conditions and erratic rainfall, subsequently affecting crop production and worsening disease outbreaks, according to Unicef.
The ministry’s public relations officer, Mr Donald Mujiri, said through village health workers, there was implementation of active screening for malnutrition for early identification, referral and treatment of children with malnutrition within communities.
“The care group is a social behaviour change initiative in which caregivers of children are reached with messages and practical support and follow-up on age-appropriate optimal infant and young child feeding methods using locally available foods. Some of the behaviours promoted include water, sanitation and hygiene components which prevent and control the spread of diarrhoeal diseases which contribute to child malnutrition,” he said.
“This model is not just an entry point for health and nutrition interventions, but also encompasses income generating activities, internal savings and lending (mikando). Some of the income generating activities include chicken rearing, which has seen improvement of household food security and nutrition through consumption of meat and eggs while selling excess for income.”
Mr Mujiri said the ministry was also distributing multiple-micronutrient powders (MNPs) through health facilities and village health workers to mothers and caregivers of children from six to 23 months to fortify the foods they eat at home and prevent stunting.
He said stunting — a form of chronic malnutrition — results in children being too short for their age and of poor intellectual ability.
“Communities need to de-colonise their minds and pallets to achieve food sovereignty and security. Many people have the mentality that ultra-processed foods and commercial cereals in shops and markets are what children need to be well nourished and healthy, yet it is wholesome indigenous cereals such as zviyo, mhunga and mapfunde porridge which are healthier alternatives,” said Mr Mujiri.
“Instead of buying high-sugar well-nourished mahewu, we recommend households make their own mahewu using leftover sadza to prevent food wastage. Instead of buying ultra-processed snacks high in unhealthy fats and salt for children, may we give them fruits such as bananas and avocados in between meals.”
Mr Mujiri said indlubu, indumba and NUA45 beans are highly nutritious and can be cooked and mashed together with mealie-meal porridge to diversify its flavour.
Online Reporter