National Nutrition Policy
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Date
2005-01-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Malawi Government
Abstract
Adequate nutrition is a pre-requisite for human capital development. Improving the
nutritional status of the people of Malawi is therefore, one of my Government’s top
priorities. In order to ensure adequate nutrition in Malawi, my Government has
developed the National Nutrition Policy (NNP).
The goal of the policy is to facilitate improvement of the nutritional status of all
Malawians, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups such as pregnant and
lactating mothers, children below the age of 15 years, orphans, the elderly and
people living with HIV and AIDS”. The purpose of the Policy is to raise national
awareness on the magnitude of the nutrition problems in Malawi their impact in
the economy with a view to provide guidance and galvanise the nation towards the
achievement of acceptable levels of nutrition for purposes of effective contribution
to economic growth and development of the country.
My government has developed the National Nutrition Policy having noted that the
Food Security and Nutrition Policy of 1990 and other development policies that
contain elements of nutrition did not give adequate attention to nutrition.
Additionally, there was vertical implementation of nutrition programmes within
different sectors and limited resource allocation. This policy will facilitate
standardisation, coordination and improvement of the quality of nutrition services
delivery within all sectors of the economy.
In 2005, I directed that the Food and Nutrition Security Policy be split into two
namely; Food Security Policy and National Nutrition Policy to be championed by
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; and the Department of Nutrition, HIV
and AIDS in my office respectively.
The Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS is therefore, mandated to spearhead
the implementation of the Nutrition Policy through provision of policy direction and
guidance; coordination, capacity building, resources mobilisation and monitoring
and evaluation. To realize the policy’s goal, there is need for active participation of
all stakeholders in the implementation process. I am therefore calling upon all
Malawians and partners to support the implementation of this policy.