Nutrition tops govt priority, says PM

MWANZA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has stated that nutrition is a critical priority for the government in enabling the implementation of development plans and economic activities within communities, including agriculture, fishing, livestock and trade.

He made these remarks yesterday, while closing the 10th General Meeting of Nutrition Stakeholders in Mwanza.

He said that the commitment of the sixth phase government, led by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan is to eradicate all forms of malnutrition in the country.

Mr. Majaliwa also called on all nutrition stakeholders to ensure they make good use of the findings from the mid-term review report to assess themselves and take appropriate measures to improve the implementation of nutrition interventions.

Additionally, the Prime Minister directed all regions and councils nationwide to utilise the national guidelines for providing food and nutrition services to primary school students, ensuring that the use of fortified foods is included and budgeted for in annual plans and budgets.

“The President Office, Regional Administration and Local Government must ensure that the nutrition contracts between the President and Regional Commissioners are fully implemented and productive.

Continue to monitor closely and provide regular implementation report,” he directed.

Furthermore, Mr Majaliwa urged ministries, agencies, institutions and public organisations to fully utilise the National Comprehensive Nutrition Action Plan and budget, ensuring that nutrition issues are integrated into plans and adequately funded for full implementation each year.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs and Coordination), Mr William Lukuvi, said that the meeting brought together nutrition stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as development partners.

Mr Lukuvi noted that the goal of the meeting was to discuss in depth the successes and challenges in the implementation of nutrition interventions in the country and to evaluate the progress made in line with the goals set in the second comprehensive nutrition plan.

“The Prime Minister’s Office has continued to coordinate the implementation of this comprehensive plan, which began in the 2021/22 fiscal year and we have now seen significant achievements as nutrition stakeholders during the second year of its implementation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel, said that nutrition issues play a vital role in people’s health, praising the Prime Minister’s Office for its continued coordination of these matters.

“Nutrition is essential; we must take this issue very seriously, as addressing nutrition will help reduce hospital admissions.”

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Earlier, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Exaud Kigahe, stated that they are continuing to collaborate with various institutions through the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), to ensure the introduction of simple technologies to enhance nutrients in food, so that the Tanzanian community, especially children, can receive good nutrition.

“In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, we are ensuring that we continue to simplify technologies that will bring about interventions so that everyone can obtain good nutrition through accessible technologies that we believe many of us can use.”