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Malawi President Dr. Joyce Banda
launched the Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Project on February 28 with support from
the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the World Bank, and $103
million from the United States. The project will increase access and
utilization of selected services that reduce child and maternal anemia as well
as stunted growth in children. The project also will work to prevent HIV/AIDS
in children and sexually active adults.
At the project’s launch, Banda
emphasized that, although Malawi is making progress in improving maternal
health and combating HIV/AIDS, the country still has challenges in combatting
stunting and anemia. Banda declared that 47.1 percent of children were stunted
in growth, which is an unhealthy development for Malawi. She added that in this
project, the country would change focus to ensure Malawi has policies and
programs that support nutrition improvement. To accomplish this, the government
and stakeholders need to cooperate in the implementation of mother and child
programs. Malawians need to take nutrition issues seriously.
Malawi Secretary for Nutrition, HIV,
and AIDS Edith Mkawa warned that stunting has long-term effects on cognitive
development and results in a 1-percent loss in adult height and a 1.4-percent
loss in productivity. Alain Latulipe, Canadian high commissioner to Malawi,
stated that Canada was encouraged by the Malawi government’s dedication to
caring for children under the age of five and pregnant mothers, and by their
efforts to combat HIV/AIDS; therefore, they had confidence that Malawi also
would be successful in fighting stunting.
Sandra Bloemenkamp, country manager
for the World Bank, said the bank would provide support to ensure that the
country achieves its Malawi Development Growth Strategies. She noted that
Malawi has made considerable gains in child survival and maternal health but
stunting still is a serious problem. She stressed that the World Bank and CIDA
funding will scale up maternal and child nutrition service delivery, both at
community and national levels.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
