National Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan for Malawi

Nutrition disorders continue to be a silent crisis in Malawi despite efforts by government and partners to improve the situation. This poses a serious challenge to the attainment of the national growth and development goals as set in the MGDS.

Currently, 48 percent of the under-five children are chronically malnourished (stunted), 5 percent have acute malnutrition (wasting) and 22 percent are underweight. Noncommunicable nutrition related disorders such as overweight, obesity, hypertension, arthritis, gout, certain types of cancer and diabetes are becoming common and silently contributing to the high mortality rate in the country. Micronutrient deficiencies of vitamin A, iron and iodine are also high. Such high malnutrition levels have long term adverse effect on the intellectual and physical ability of an individual and undermine the individual’s academic and professional achievement and productivity.

Malnutrition, therefore, is one of the main factors responsible for the low human capacity development and economic growth in the country. Malnutrition is one of the major contributing factors to the high morbidity rates among various population groups in the country. For example, in 2005 52% of under-five children mortality was due to malnutrition and enaemia contributes 57% to maternal mortality. Malnutrition is therefore major contributing factor to children, pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable groups. At the current levels of nutrition disorders in the country, it is estimated that in every 4 seconds, a Malawian could be dying of a nutrition related problem (Bibi Giyose, NEPAD, 2005).

The National Nutrition Policy therefore, seeks to enhance Government’s response towards the malnutrition crisis. It is intended to facilitate the standardisation; coordination and improvement of the quality of nutrition services and in turn reduce the prevailing nutrition disorders to reasonable levels. The policy is expected to lead to the attainment of improved nutritional status and productivity among various population groups so that they contribute effectively to the economic growth and development of the country.

The National Nutrition Policy is accompanied by the national Nutrition strategy which describes the key focus areas, strategies, the strategic activities, targets to be achieved in the five years of implementation of the policy and the expected outcomes. It also spells out the institutional and resource requirements for the effective implementation of the policy and strategic plan. It further describes the institutional arrangements and framework as well as the key roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in operationalising the policy and strategic plan.