By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, March 16, Mana: One of the social media marketing companies in the country, in spiral, on Friday, led in the launch of the ‘Ndine Dolo’ campaign that seeks to enhance individual responsibility at household level in improving nutrition levels among communities in three Traditional Authorities (TAs) of Kamenyagwaza, Kasumbu and Tambala in Dedza district.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch which took place at Kalilombe Primary School in the area of Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, Mackion Mpukusa Phiri, the company’s Lead Consultant, said through GIZ under its Food and Nutrition Security Program (FNSP) being implemented by Self Help Africa (SHA) in the area, the campaign launch intends to promote consumption of the six food groups more especially provision of eggs and milk to the under-5 children.

“Eggs have high nutritious value and these are easier to find within the localities. So, we want to remove the notion that has been there for some time of just keeping instead of eating them. We want to achieve behavioral change by removing the bad cultural and traditional issues surrounding this,” he said.

On his part, McPherson Mwakhwawa, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), for Dedza District Council, said malnutrition is a serious issue across all the T/As in the district citing lack of food diversification as one major factor.

“We need to diversify the food we eat at household level for pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children. At the end of the project, we expect an improvement in nutrition status not only to the targeted audience but the whole communities.

Taking his turn, Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, said as chiefs they have joined the campaign where among others they will take the messages to the communities so that they should improve by preparing nutritious foods.

He said for some time, his communities have held misconceptions that expectant mothers should not eat eggs or else they will give birth to a child with a bald head and that children were denied the same saying they may experience stomachache.

“We will be engaging communities in various local meetings so that we keep sensitizing them on the importance of feeding their children all required six food groups including eggs and milk,” he emphasized.