By Chisomo Phiri
SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy founded by University of Malawi (UNIMA ) graduate Joseph Kachiya has launched the ‘Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition’ project at Brain Feeders Nursery School in Chikwawa district aimed at combating high levels of child malnutrition and promote healthier growth among children under five.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News,Kachiya said malnutrition remains a pressing challenge in Chikwawa, with children under five facing high rates of stunting, underweight conditions, and micronutrient deficiencies.
He said nurseries are an ideal entry point for instilling healthy eating habits in children while also engaging caregivers and parents.
Kachiya explained that the goal of Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition project is to improve the nutritional status and knowledge of nursery school children, which directly contributes to better health, learning ability, and long-term well-being.
He said the project seeks to assess children’s nutritional status using WHO-recommended indicators such as BMI-for-Age and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference, identify children at risk of malnutrition for timely referrals, and educate caregivers on age-appropriate feeding, dietary diversity, hygiene, and growth monitoring.
Said Kachiya:”It also aims to establish school-based gardens to provide sustainable access to vegetables and fruits while collecting baseline data to monitor and evaluate child nutrition interventions.”
He said during the launch event, 54 children, including 20 boys and 34 girls, were screened for malnutrition and anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, and MUAC, were taken to compare growth against WHO standards.
“Nutrition education sessions were also conducted, reaching 40 caregivers who were trained on child feeding practices, meal planning, food hygiene, and the importance of dietary diversity.
“For children, the lessons were interactive, using songs, games, and storytelling to teach about food groups and handwashing,” said Kachiya.
He said another highlight of the launch was the introduction of the School Garden Initiative, which demonstrated how parents and children can grow nutritious crops using climate-smart agricultural methods.
“Out of the children screened, two were identified with Severe Acute Malnutrition and two with Moderate Acute Malnutrition. They were referred for immediate intervention, while 50 children were classified as normal,” said Kachiya.
He explained that the project is expected to improve nutrition knowledge among learners, parents, and teachers, increase dietary diversity in households and school meals, reduce malnutrition rates among nursery school learners, and establish a functional school garden to supplement daily meals.
“SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy has also outlined a sustainability plan. Parents will be empowered with home-based nutrition skills, monthly growth monitoring will continue, and the school garden will be used as both a food supply and a learning hub. The initiative will also contribute to the broader efforts of the Chikwawa District Nutrition Coordination Committee in tackling child malnutrition.
“Through Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition project, we want to give children a brighter, healthier future,” said Kachiya.
