By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, February 8, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, has asked community members to embrace good nutrition practices, including consumption of six food groups to maintain good health.

Nkhoma said this on Thursday when Invest in Early Years Program (IEYP) distributed wrappers to 700 beneficiaries of the programme at Chizumulu Island. 

“The wrappers which you have received are displaying nutritional messages. These messages are not there for decoration but they have an intended purpose. You need to put into practice whatever message is there, such as eating six food groups to sustain health lives with your families,” said Nkhoma.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to wear the wrappers in order to disseminate the messages displayed to community members than using the wrappers as bed sheets or curtains.

Community Facilitator for IEYP Project, Vision Mkumbwa, said apart from being information, education and communication materials, the wrappers were distributed to motivate the beneficiaries.

“Apart from the wrappers, beneficiaries have beneficiated in various ways such as receiving bicycles, laptop bags, weighing scales and livestock, including goats, ducks, and chickens which have contributed in improving nutritional status of their households,” he said.

Nutrition promoter for Chiteko Village Development Committee, Winnie Majiwa, said the economic and nutrition status of her household has improved after she received banana suckers, fruit tree seedlings, goats and chickens from the programme.