By Chisomo Phiri
The Ntcheu District Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Office has raised concern over the rising trend of malnutrition in the district as the recent statistics show that malnutrition rates have increased from 41% in 2015 to 44% in 2024.
Speaking during a Nutrition Open Day organized by The Hunger Project in the area of Senior Chief Mwakwangwala on Tuesday,Ntcheu Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer Lucius Viligilio Njobvu,attributed the rise to parental negligence, pointing out that many parents, due to busy farming and business schedules, fail to adequately feed their children.
On his part,Senior Chief Mwakwangwala echoed Njobvu’s concerns, highlighting that some farmers sell the majority of their harvests without reserving enough for their families’ consumption.
In his remarks, Ntcheu District Disability Forum Chairperson Henderson Golombe commended The Hunger Project for supporting the community with fertilizer and other agricultural inputs, which he said have contributed to improved nutrition among residents.
The Hunger Project is currently implementing a five-year initiative in Ntcheu District, which began in 2021 and is expected to conclude in October 2025.
