Government says it is stepping up efforts to eradicate child food poverty, which remains a big concern as findings shows that it is affecting over 25 out of every 100 children.
Deputy Minister of Healthy, Noah Chimpani ensured government’s efforts in addressing the problem, during the launch of first foods Africa Initiative National Launch, in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
Chimpeni said the high percentage in child food poverty is a result of low quality of the diet that most children eats.
However, Chimpeni hailed the first food African Initiative, saying it will help the country to move forward in addressing gaps and scaling up proven best practices for addressing child food poverty.
He further revealed that there a number of measures which Government is taking against the challenge.
“We will be providing loans for production to some companies at low interest rates to motivate them to produce foods rich with nutrients for children”
“We are also engaging communities in food processing, preservation and preparations, giving them techniques in order to have different food stuffs always available” said Chimpeni.
With Support from UNICEF, Malawi has been nominated as the front runners in the first food African Initiative, along with six other country’s in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region.
The Initiative will comprise of three main pillars, namely, incentivizing global production, sharing policy environments and stimulating consumption.
To her part, Chief of Nutrition for UNICEF, Dr. Charity Zvandaziva urged collaboration between government, private sector and with all stakeholders for the initiative be successful.
Zvandaziva further ensured UNICEF’s commitment to working closely with relevant government departments and institutions to create policy environments to protect and promote access to nutritious safe, affordable and sustainable first foods.
