The RC gave the directive here yesterday at a function for signing agreements for the implementation of nutrition intervention initiative between his office and all local councils in the region.
He noted that despite massive investments, the region has been able to reduce stunting level from 33 per cent to 22.9 this year.
This is in the implementation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directives to take steps against embezzlers of public funds on nutrition thereby hindering government goals in fighting malnutrition in the country. He said the agreement is in the implementation of President Samia’s directives to regional commissioners recently calling for doing so in their areas in order to beef up supervision against kwashiorkor and stunting.
“District commissioners and executive directors you have signed the agreement with 14 sections, I ask you to implement their contents as President Samia said she wants to be sent reports after every three months, we in Mbeya want to receive the reports every after two and half months in order to process them and onward transmission to the president,” said RC Homera.
Mbeya Regional Nutrition Officer, Benson Sanga said 400m/- has been allocated to empower the people with education to fight stunting.
He said among the strategies to be undertaken include educating the people on the importance of nutrition in schools and health centres.
“The money we receive is part of the implementation in nutrition intervention and there are various issues we have planned to implement such as educating pregnant women to have complete and balanced diets as well as vaccinations to protect the health of the women and children,” said Sanga.
Kyela District Executive Director, Ezekiel Magehema said they will go and increase nutrition funds in the coming councillors meeting.
He said according to RC’s directives all the money provided should be used for the purposes intended.
Rungwe District Executive Director, Renatus Mchau said they will make the nutrition issue one of their agendas hence it will be a topic for every meeting.
