The US Government officially launched on December 17th the project “Transform Nutrition” in Nampula, in an event attended by the Provincial Governor, Victor Manuel Borges on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the Director of the Office of Health of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Monique Mosolf, the Director General of ADPP Mozambique, Birgit Holm and other guests.
The project now launched will reduce childhood stunting rates and improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under the age of two. This will be implemented in twelve districts of Nampula province over the next five years, and the initiative is budgeted for a total of $24 million US dollars, and it is funded by the US government and implemented by a consortium led by ADPP Mozambique in cooperation with the h2n Association, Lúrio University (UniLúrio), Viamo and the Global Alliance for Nutrition Improvement (GAIN) with activities focused on 12 districts.
Recent research shows that Nampula Province has a stunting rate of 55% in children under 5, a rate 12% higher than the national average. In addition, 51% of teenage girls in the province are anemic. Malnutrition statistics such as these have complex causes and include very low-calorie, micronutrient, and protein diets; gender inequality in access to nutritious food; misconceptions about nutritious diets and poor hygiene and sanitation. “By tackling the problem of malnutrition from every angle – individual knowledge, community, market resources and government capacity at all levels – these projects not only help Mozambicans in Nampula, but also provide the Government of Mozambique with a model for improving health that can be used nationwide. ”said Monique Mosolf, Director of the USAID Health Office.
With the launch of this project, the Governor of Nampula Province, Victor Borges, believes that the estimated malnutrition rate of over 47% could reduce with changing attitudes of the population in the districts concerned. In turn, Aboobacar Covela, project director, said: “Some foods are more nutritious than others, and we want to see people growing healthy and nutritious foods in their gardens.” Transform Nutrition will use community radio and video to support changing norms, behaviors and practices around nutrition, hygiene and sanitation and will develop model gardens with a good mix of nutritious foods. ”
On the occasion, the “Promoting Nutrition” project was also launched, which, together with “Transforming Nutrition” will benefit about 550,000 Mozambicans and is a critical component of the US Mission’s assistance program in Mozambique. In close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the US Government provides more than $ 500 million in annual assistance to improve the quality of education, health, economic growth and overall development of the nation. To address these challenges, the US Government will partner with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique at central, provincial and district levels, coordinate nutrition activities and train health professionals in screening and treating malnutrition problems. It will also support community-level interventions that improve nutrition and increase access to more nutritious food, improved sanitation and hygiene products for families and individuals.