First Lady calls on Mozambicans to embrace the fight against malnutrition

Nametil (Mozambique), 17 Oct (AIM) – Mozambique’s First Lady, Isaura Nyusi, on 17 October challenged society, particularly mothers, to promote the country’s development by embracing the fight against chronic malnutrition.

Isaura Nyusi made the call in the town of Nametil, Mogovolas district, in the northern province of Nampula province, at the launching ceremony of the Nutrition Education Campaign “Crescer Bem” (Growing Well). The event was also part of the celebrations of International Day of Rural Women celebrated on 15 October.

The First Lady’s comments came as official data indicates that 24 per cent of the population still suffers the effects of chronic malnutrition.

According to Isaura Nyusi, “despite being one of the main challenges of public health in the country, chronic malnutrition is still unknown to a large part of our population. I am convinced that, as in the past, from mother to mother, Mozambican mothers will unite to overcome the challenge of making Mozambique grow well”.

She added that “with this programme, we intend to train 2.5 million women in rural areas in nutritional education, which could benefit five million Mozambican children”. To achieve this target, Isaura Nyusi expects the collaboration of a vast network of extension officers.

The First Lady pointed out that “over the last five years, we have been able to reduce the rates of chronic malnutrition from 43 to 38 per cent, as shown by the Household Budget Survey for children under five years of age”.

The choice of Nampula province to host the launch of the nutritional education campaign was not by mere chance, said the First Lady. “On this day, when we celebrate Rural Women's Day, we chose Nampula province, in particular the district of Mogovolas, to launch the Nutrition Education Campaign "Crescer Bem", because this province has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the country, around 46.7 per cent of children under 5 years of age, with the highest incidence here”.

The Nutritional Education Programme "Crescer Bem", is an initiative of the First Lady’s Office in coordination with the Mozambican government, aiming at raising awareness and mobilising the entire society, particularly pregnant women, mothers, and guardians.

Isaura Nyusi was accompanied at the launch of the campaign by the Agriculture Minister, Celso Correia and of Gender, Women and Children, Nyeleti Mondlane, cooperation partners of the government, and the United Nations agencies.
(AIM)