By Chisomo Phiri
SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy, in partnership with Nutrition Champions, has launched the ‘Tiwale Nutrition Project’, a school-based initiative aimed at improving nutrition knowledge and promoting healthy eating habits among adolescent girls at Stella Maris Secondary School in Blantyre.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News, the consultantancy’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO ) Joseph Kachiya, said the initiative seeks to empower students through interactive nutrition education, practical demonstrations, and mentorship.
He said it also addresses critical issues such as malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Kachiya emphasized that the project is designed not just to educate, but to inspire students to become nutrition ambassadors in their schools and communities.
He said:”The initiative focuses on educating students about the importance of balanced diets and various food groups, raising awareness on the prevention of malnutrition and diet-related NCDs through healthy eating, promoting the consumption of locally available and affordable nutritious foods, building students’ capacity to make informed food choices and positively influence their peers, and encouraging the formation of student-led nutrition clubs and community advocacy.
“During the pilot phase, which will last one month, students will participate in nutrition education sessions covering balanced diets, micronutrient deficiencies, meal planning, and NCD prevention.
“They will also take part in healthy diet demonstrations, where they learn to prepare nutritious meals using local ingredients, as well as quizzes and debates designed to assess and reinforce their knowledge.
“Nutrition information materials, including posters, leaflets, and booklets developed by SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy, will also be distributed.”
Kachiya said the project aims to improve students’ nutrition knowledge and awareness, encourage positive behavior changes toward healthy eating, increase the consumption of locally available nutritious foods, and empower students to become nutrition champions in their communities.
He said monitoring and evaluation will involve pre- and post-assessments, observation of student engagement, and feedback from teachers and students, with outcomes reported to the school administration and project partners.
To ensure sustainability, Kachiya said the initiative plans to establish a school nutrition club led by trained students, with ongoing mentorship from SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy and Nutrition Champions Organization, while integrating nutrition topics into the school’s health programs.
