Amos Mpofu [email protected]
COMMUNITY-based care groups are stepping up efforts to combat malnutrition in Matabeleland by equipping households with practical nutrition and livelihood skills ahead of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño-induced drought.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with development partners, is empowering communities to improve household nutrition, promote healthier lifestyles and build resilience using locally available resources.
The progress was showcased during a care group learning event held at Redwood-Figtree in Bulilima District yesterday, bringing together participants from Mangwe, Bulilima, Beitbridge, Matobo, Binga and Tsholotsho districts.
The gathering provided a platform for participants to exchange experiences and practical knowledge on improving household diets, supporting vulnerable mothers and children, and adopting sustainable livelihood initiatives to withstand the effects of climate change.
Care groups are volunteer-led, community-based structures that promote health and nutrition, particularly among mothers and children under the age of five.
Launched in 2017, the programme seeks to improve health outcomes, reduce child mortality and encourage greater community participation in promoting healthier lifestyles.
It is a collaborative initiative involving Government and development partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Vision and the Enhanced Livelihood and Nutrition Adaptation (ELINA) project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and the Community Technology Development Trust (CTDO).
Speaking to Zimpapers on the sidelines of the event yesterday, Matabeleland South Provincial Food and Nutrition Security Committee secretariat member Mr Innocent Mazarura said the programme had made a positive impact in the province and across the country.
“This programme brings together care groups from different districts so that we can share knowledge and improve this programme. I can therefore attest that care groups and District Food and Nutrition Security Committees (DFNSCs) are significantly improving nutrition outcomes in our areas,” he said.
“They have enhanced community engagement, improved health knowledge and supported vulnerable mothers and children, leading to reduced stunting and wasting among children under five years and increased exclusive breastfeeding rates.”
Mr Mazarura said the National Food and Nutrition Security Committee continued to strengthen co-ordination, resource allocation and capacity-building to improve the implementation of nutrition programmes.
He said the multi-sectoral approach brought together Government departments and development partners to address malnutrition through interventions such as promoting exclusive breastfeeding, establishing nutrition gardens and encouraging sustainable community-based initiatives.
“It is a multi-sectoral approach where Government departments work together to end malnutrition by promoting good behaviours such as breastfeeding, nutrition gardens and other initiatives,” he explained.
This year’s learning event also focused on climate resilience, with care group members receiving training and sharing experiences on livelihood initiatives that could help households adapt to the effects of climate change.
“This approach helps to capacitate and empower communities to mitigate, adapt and become resilient to climate change, as our partners will be helping us to come up with plans to deal with the atrocities of climate change,” said Mr Mazarura.
He described the gathering as a success, saying participants had the opportunity to observe and learn from practical initiatives being implemented in other communities.
He said the knowledge gained would enable participants to replicate successful interventions and introduce innovative ideas in their respective communities.
“They are going to teach in their communities and better their communities by starting some of the things they did not think were possible, as well as innovating from this learning session,” he said.
Mr Mazarura said the commitment demonstrated by community members and their leaders was encouraging, as it reflected their appreciation of the importance of improved health and nutrition.
Meanwhile, CTDO care group lead mother Mrs Senzeni Ncube said the programme had equipped mothers with practical knowledge on improving household nutrition through traditional crops and locally available resources.
“We are very happy to be part of this initiative, as it teaches us a lot,” she said.
“As mothers in our communities, we have learnt a lot about taking good care of our children and feeding them healthier diets made from our traditional crops and indigenous resources.”
Mrs Ncube demonstrated various nutritious food products prepared from traditional crops and indigenous resources, including processed porridges, drinks, fruits and herbal teas.
She also explained the nutritional benefits of the different products, highlighting their nutrient content, including the iron content of baobab seed tea.
Ms Juliet Moyo, a care group member from Bulilima under GOAL Zimbabwe, also commended the learning initiative, saying participants were eager to transfer the knowledge acquired to their communities.
“We have learnt a lot here and we are going to impact our communities with new knowledge and implement it,” she said.
