Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Nutrition Association (ZimNA) has called on caregivers, health professionals and Government authorities to work together to address feeding difficulties in children, warning that delayed intervention can threaten a child’s growth, development and survival.
Speaking to Zimpapers as part of ZimNA’s campaign to raise awareness about what it describes as Zimbabwe’s “hidden health crisis” among children, the association’s secretary-general, Dr Monica Muti, said early recognition of feeding difficulties and timely access to appropriate care can significantly improve health outcomes.
Dr Muti explained that several medical conditions can interfere with a child’s ability to feed effectively.
“Conditions such as prematurity, low birth weight, severe pneumonia, asthma, congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, and cerebral palsy can make it difficult for children to feed, affecting their ability to suck, swallow properly or coordinate the muscles needed for feeding,” she said.
She noted that children living with cleft lip and palate and cerebral palsy in Zimbabwe often face additional barriers to accessing specialised care.
“Specialist services such as speech therapy, surgical repair and feeding clinics are often concentrated in a few urban referral hospitals. As a result, families in rural areas face long distances and transport costs that can delay treatment until a child’s condition is already severe,” she said.
Dr Muti stressed that good nutrition remains one of the most important foundations of health and wellbeing, yet many children struggle daily to obtain adequate nourishment because of feeding challenges.
“Good nutrition is one of the most important foundations of health and wellbeing. The food we eat provides us with the nutrients that are essential for energy, growth and protection against illness. We often take it for granted that we get hungry and we eat, yet for some children the need to eat is very urgent, but it is difficult to get any food into the body,” she said.
“For many children across Zimbabwe, getting food into the body is a daily struggle that can quietly threaten growth, development and survival if it goes unrecognised. When a child cannot eat enough or feed effectively, their body may not receive the nutrients needed to grow and thrive. As the Zimbabwe Nutrition Association, we say that recognising early signs of feeding difficulties and seeking appropriate care can make a significant difference.”
Dr Muti said the burden of caring for children with feeding difficulties often falls heavily on parents and caregivers.
“Long meal times, vigilance against choking and watching a child lose weight despite every effort can leave caregivers physically and emotionally exhausted. Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and cleft lip and palate in Zimbabwe and across sub-Saharan Africa often report depression, anxiety and grief, alongside social isolation and financial hardship arising from special feeds, equipment and travel for therapy,” she said.
She urged parents and caregivers not to ignore warning signs, including choking or coughing during feeds, frequent vomiting, difficulty swallowing, signs of aspiration, poor weight gain or growth faltering, and persistent refusal to eat or drink.
“Caregivers who spot these signs are urged to seek help early. A nutritionist, dietitian or hospital food services supervisor can assess a child’s nutritional needs and guide safe feeding practices to prevent malnutrition and support healthy growth. If you are concerned about a child’s feeding, speak to the nurse at your nearest health facility for assessment and referral to a qualified nutrition practitioner,” said Dr Muti.
She emphasised that managing feeding difficulties requires a multidisciplinary approach.
“There is no single professional who can solve feeding difficulties alone. A child with cleft lip and palate may need a surgeon, a speech therapist, a nutritionist and a nurse working together. A child with cerebral palsy may also require a physiotherapist. When these professionals work in isolation, children fall through the gaps,” she said.
Dr Muti said Government also has a critical role to play in improving access to specialist services through policy support, training and decentralisation of services.
“If the Ministry of Health and Child Care makes greater investment in training and decentralised clinics outside the major cities, this would directly ease the waiting times and travel burdens caregivers face today,” she said.
She added that ZimNA continues to advocate for stronger partnerships among medical professionals, allied health practitioners and Government institutions.
“Such collaboration is essential if Zimbabwe is to move from a system that treats feeding difficulties only as emergencies to one that identifies and supports children early,” she said.
Dr Muti further highlighted the need to improve public awareness, noting that many caregivers are unaware that feeding difficulties are recognised and treatable conditions.
To bridge that knowledge gap, ZimNA is using social media platforms to share information on warning signs, safe feeding practices and available support services.
The association is also encouraging caregivers to utilise the Rerai Umntwana parenting app and seek professional help from registered nutritionists and dietitians when concerns arise.
Health experts say greater awareness, early intervention and coordinated care could significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes of children experiencing feeding difficulties across Zimbabwe.
