Zambia: The government of Zambia is implementing many Nutrition-sensitive interventions for the vulnerable communities of the nation. The interventions are being implemented under the Scaling Up Nutrition SUN II, 1000 Most Critical Days (MCDP II) Programme.
As per the government servants, the initiative has cheered beneficiaries in Ntambu Chiefdom in Mwinilunga District of North-Western Province. The people of the country are appreciating the government’s intention behind the initiative.
The Beneficiaries said they have gained a lot of knowledge about the relationship between good nutrition and the forest, water, hygiene and sanitation. The communities believe that they previously had no better understanding of these relationships.
Catherine Musumali said members of the Nutrition Support Group (NSGs) now appreciate the need to care for forests. She made these remarks during a visit of Nutrition Support Group Promoters and Volunteers in Ntambu, Makuya and Chisasa Wards by members of the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC).
She said that the trees are a rich source of high nutritional value foods such as honey and caterpillars.
“The department of forestry trained us in bee-keeping and how to set and locate a modern beehive, and as a woman I am also able to set bee hives and from these we will get honey which is good for nutrition and has other products such as wax which can be used to make candles,” Musumali said.
Meanwhile, Mwinilunga District Nutritionist Joel Mukali expressed satisfaction with the levels of absorption of both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive messages by beneficiaries in the three wards.
Mukali said after inspecting some houses to check compliance with some Water Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) requirements among households in the three wards that people are now able to link issues of hygiene to nutrition.
“Generally, people have received and understood the programme with a good number of them implementing all interventions that apply to their households to enhance good nutrition,” Mukali said