Andrew
Rudo Mandiro
Traditional leaders in Chipinge and Chimanimani are taking the fight against infant malnutrition into their own hands.
For years, nursing mothers in local villages were prematurely discontinuing breastfeeding their babies for the recommended two years mostly after falling pregnant.
As a result, infant malnutrition had become pervasive.
To address the problem an innovative solution was sought and found.
Nursing mothers who neglect to breastfeed their babies for two years are being fined by traditional courts.
Chief Enias Mapungwana of Chigonda village in Chipinge said the fines range from a goat to a cow.
“As a community, we have set fines for all couples who stop breastfeeding their babies before the prescribed times,” he said.
“If your case is reported to the headman you pay a goat and if it is reported to the chief you pay a cow. The fine is paid by the husband.”
He said the new initiative was introduced after local health workers raised alarm about rising cases of malnutrition and stunted growth among infants.
A survey by health authorities, he said, concluded that in most cases, nursing mothers stopped breastfeeding after falling pregnant before their babies turn two years.
The mothers wrongly believed pregnant women’s milk was tainted.
“In most cases, the babies developed poor health and this called for us traditional leaders to intervene,” added Chief Mapungwana.
He said since introduction of the fines, more than seven years ago, cases of infant malnutrition have decreased dramatically.
“Even maternal deaths have gone down because we also fine mothers who deliver at home,” he added.
To facilitate the initiative, village health clubs were established where nursing mothers receive training and support from skilled village health workers.
It is through this network of health clubs that village health workers (VHW) monitor compliance.
Mr Titus Makuyana, a VHW in Chigonda village, said he provides support to 12 breastfeeding mothers.
“The programme came when we realised that most men in rural areas were only after having babies and cared less about feeding of the child because women would conceive while breastfeeding,” he said.
“In some cases women would stop breastfeeding early because of unfounded myths, which state that pregnant mothers produce dirty milk.
“This resulted in the introduction of fines on couples who stop breastfeeding their children prematurely.”
He said health workers have observed declining rates of default.
Mrs Lettyna Manongoma (29), another health worker in Chingweke village, Chimanimani, said mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
She said: “After six months the child can have other foods but should continue breastfeeding until it turns two.
“As a mother who took time to understand that breastfeeding comes with the benefits of a healthy child, I breastfed my baby for two years.
“This helped protect the baby from illnesses such as asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome.”
Chipinge District nutritionist Mrs Samukeliso Masikati said more than 3 000 children in the district were malnourished.
“Global acute malnutrition rates in Chipinge district stand at 9 percent, while severe acute malnutrition rate is at 4,5 percent,” said Mrs Masikati.
“Our moderate acute malnutrition rate is at 4,5 percent.”
She said mothers who fall pregnant while nursing their babies can continue breastfeeding their children up to the time they go into labour.
She added:
“There is no harm in breastfeeding while pregnant.”
Chimanimani District nutritionist Mrs Ennesy Makamure said: “Through village health workers’ support, our cure rate has improved from roughly 75 percent to about 85 percent.
“This means that there is a 10 percent increase in malnutrition cases which we were able to cure from 2020 up to June 2022.
“Our defaulter rates where we have children who drop out of the programme have really gone down.”
VHWs around the country are supported by the Ministry of Health and Child Care through funding from UNICEF under the Health Development Fund (HDF).
Online Reporter