By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, May 22, Mana: Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDs Officer at Blantyre District Council, Ruth Hara, has hailed community level care groups for carrying out interventions that are meant to improve nutrition levels in children and women.

Hara expressed gratitude over care groups this week when a team from Blantyre District Council, University of Malawi and UNICEF visited Tikondane Care Group in Chileka, at Traditional Authority, Kunthembwe to evaluated food preparation and sanitation practices in the area.

Using the community behaviour-tracking tool developed by UNIMA, the team evaluated households’ progress in balanced diet preparation, exclusive breastfeeding, iron supplementation for adolescent girls, and proper sanitation.

Before a feedback session held in the community, officials toured several households to observe best practices firsthand such that many households showcased well maintained backyard gardens, construction of livestock kraals and improved pit latrines.

Hara said, through the care groups, households adopted best practices to improve wellbeing of women and children.

“We are seeing real change; households are growing their own food and are following best practices. This help to reduce malnutrition and improve overall well-being,” she added.

Hara also called on traditional leaders to support care groups in reaching out to households that are still resistant to adopt best practices or lack accurate information on nutrition, exclusive breast-feeding and proper sanitation.

“We need chiefs to help us convince those who are still hesitant. The success of this initiative depends on community wide participation,” she added.

Group Village Head Makonje also commended the initiative after observing improved food preparations and sanitation and acknowledged misinformation, misconceptions and resistance to change as factors that contribute to low adoption of best life practices.

“There’s progress, we have seen a decline in number of girls suffering from anemia. I promise to continue supporting this work so that people understand and adopt best practices,” he said and pledged to support care groups in mobilizing communities to adopt best food preparation and good hygiene practices.

Cluster leader and beneficiary, Olivia Alfred said that backyard gardening and consumption of six food groups improved her family’s nutrition status and helped her cut food costs.

“We now know six food groups, and I have a backyard garden which has reduced cost of food. This intervention has truly changed our lives,” she added.

Care group members also demonstrated what they teach, showcasing homemade juices, various types of porridge and later in the afternoon, the visiting team held interactive sessions with adolescents on health and nutrition needs.