Iringa combats malnutrition with fortified foods, tackles community misconceptions

Iringa. Health officials in Iringa are pushing fortified foods and oils to combat the high incidence of malnutrition among children under five, all the while refuting unfavourable stereotypes in the community. 

The call was made on Thursday, June 27, 2024, during the annual commemoration of the World SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises).

 The acting Iringa Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Ms Hellen Chisanga, said the region has initiated a campaign to assess the nutritional status of children under the age of five, aimed at reaching more than 5,000 children to determine the stunting level.

 She stated that they have established a protocol to engage with food and oil processors who add nutrients to maize flour to understand their challenges and the necessary resolution measures.

 "We are working closely with fortified foods and oil processors to identify their workstations as well as the challenges facing them,” he said, noting that the initiative is being supported by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

 Iringa regional nutrition officer, Ms Anna Patrick, said there were varying perceptions within the community regarding fortified foods, noting that while some community members have a higher understanding of and use of the products, others oppose them.

 “Those opposing fortified foods and oils say they may cause infertility and reduce virility in men. With significant support from GAIN, the government's efforts to promote food fortification were underway, especially empowering processors who have positively responded by increasing the product's availability,” she said.

 She said education is provided through different platforms, including meetings, religious and traditional leaders, and media outlets.

Furthermore, she appreciated the progress made in promoting food fortification, expressing confidence that the public has access to fortified foods, which is a significant step forward for the region," said Ms Patrick.

 The Association of Fortified Foods and Oils Processors regional chairman, Benedict Mnyema, said they have received education on the production of quality fortified flour from cereals to address nutritional challenges facing the region.

 He said that in the past, Iringa had health interventions aimed at addressing nutritional challenges, including malnutrition, noting, however, that the lack of appropriate education remains a drawback.

Mr Mnyema asked the government to review its laws to discourage trading and the use of unfortified flour and oils in the country to address the growing nutritional challenges in some areas.

The GAIN project and food fortification officer, Mr Dickson Minja, said the project's goal is to improve nutrition interventions, particularly the hidden hunger, by working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to add essential nutrients to maize flour.

 He said associations of millers have been formed in the Kagera, Mara, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, and Iringa regions.

 He said that with the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), many activities have been conducted, including training SMEs on good manufacturing practices.

 Mr Minja advised experts to continue overseeing the production of fortified flour and oils to meet the required quality standards for the benefit of the entire community.

 World SME, which is globally commemorated on June 27, was established by the United Nations in 2017 to recognise the critical role of SMEs in the world economy and sustainable development, including employing millions of people, driving innovation, and offering essential goods and services in communities.