By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, January 22, Mana; A consortium of Nutrition International Malawi, Water Aid and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) is set to jointly implement a five-year capacity-building project in Mangochi to improve nutrition and hygiene of marginalized people that include women, adolescent girls and under five children.

The project which is called Increased Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation and Empowerment (IGNIT 3) will also be implemented in other four other districts namely; Blantyre, Mzimba North, Lilongwe and Mchinji with funding from Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

Introducing the project to the District Executive Committee (DEC) in Mangochi, Project Director for Nutrition International Malawi, Janet Guta said the project was expected to benefit 200 000 women, adolescent girls and under five children in the five districts.

"We are jointly implementing the project to benefit marginalized people in the country and one of the districts is Mangochi.

‘‘Almost 200 000 people will benefit from the project whilst the total number for each district including Mangochi will be determined by formative research to be conducted within the first year of the project in order to achieve child survival," she added.

Guta said that the project will target hard to reach areas that are far from health facilities and even those near the facilities but with negative attitude about nutritional products.

She added that considering the rise of diarrhea cases especially rainy season, the project will be distributing Zinc and Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) to communities.

In her remarks, Hygiene Behavior Change Specialist for Water Aid, Maria Soko said that the project will also rehabilitate water and sanitation systems and waste management facilities in two health care facilities in Mangochi.

She also said that the project is to address maternal issues that are on the rise in the country especially in Mangochi district where adolescent girls are becoming mothers at a faster pace.

District Information Officer for Mangochi, Bishop Witmos who is also member of District Social Mobilization Committee (DSMC)commended the consortium for the project, saying it has come at a right time, to address waterborne diseases through the hygiene behavior change.

‘‘The coming in of this project is a plus for us because it will help to boost our strength for community awareness and sensitization in the fight for good nutrition and hygiene in the district,’’ added Witmos.