By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 15, Mana: Lilongwe District Council Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDS Officer, Edna Nakanga Mwangonde, has emphasized on the need for collaborated efforts in scaling-up school feeding programme in the district saying very few learners are benefiting from the programme.

Mwangonde made the call Wednesday during a District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) quarterly meeting which was conducted to update stakeholders on nutrition activities taking place in the district.

She said it was sad that out of 490 primary schools in the district, only 105 schools are on the programme representing 21 percent of those benefiting from school meals.

“We are very much behind and it is a danger considering high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity among children particularly those from poor and rural households,” she said.

Mwangonde, therefore, appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to support the district so that it reaches out to more learners with the progamme.

Lilongwe East District School Health and Nutrition Coordinator, Joseph Kanyangala, said if well implemented the programme has potential to reduce drop-out and malnutrition rates.

“The program is a great success because it addresses school drop-out rate which was high in the past. Even classroom attendance, which was very low, has improved. We just need to add more schools,” he said.

Lilongwe Civil Society Network Chairperson, Gibozi Mphanzi, said the figures are worrisome hence the need for stakeholders to map the way forward as quick as possible.

“My worry is that we are in lean season and this may also affect school attendance and learner’s performance. Additionally, cases of malnutrition among learners may also increase,” he said.

The National School Feeding Program, which is implemented by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with various ministries, development partners, and NGOs, is aimed at providing daily meals to primary school children.