By Reshmi Majumdar
Latest evidence from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) recognizes that stunting is not only linked to nutrition, but also to other essential services such as water and sanitation, education, gender equality and social services.
In order, to reduce stunting which currently affects one in three children, the Government of Zimbabwe realized the need of multi-sectoral approach delivered through a community based model to effectively deal with this challenge.
The implementation of the model supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is increasingly contributing to the Scaling of Nutrition (SON) initiative.
The implementation structures are the multi-sectoral food and nutrition security committees at all levels. To improve coordination and reporting of multi-sectoral interventions capacity building of district and ward level food and nutrition security committees was conducted. UNICEF in partnership with the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and ZimStat conducted Training of Trainers (ToT) to District Food and Nutrition Committees in Chiredzi in late August.
The key benefit of the ToT was to enable the trainers at district level to cascade the training to those at the ground level. This is critical in achieving the rapid rollout of services as well as ensuring a coordinated pool of workers trained to deliver services needed to prevent stunting. The model incorporated a combination of four modules and effective methodologies which ensured that participants cascade high quality training upon successful completion of the trainings.
As explained by Mr. P Tizai the co-Chairman District Food and Nutrition Committee, the training that was conducted in Chiredzi will help to quicken the trainings downstream as it was becoming difficult to train the increased numbers at ward level.
The training saw District Food and Nutrition Security Committees being capacitated on the legal framework that governs nutrition matters in Zimbabwe and the seven commitments of the Food and Nutrition security policy under ZIMASSET and Multi-Sectoral Community Based Model (MSCBM). During the training, both participants and trainers identified the need to have an inclusive approach that involves Water, sanitation and Hygiene, Agriculture, Education, Gender, and Social Services if the country is to effectively deal with the challenge of stunting.
The Provincial Representative Chair of the Food and Nutrition Security Committee (FNSC) in Masvingo, Mr. Elphas Mugari, pointed that, “The training will capacitate the FNSC to achieve mandates such as growing nutritious foods, educate wards and villages on WASH components and advocate nutritional intake for children and pregnant women.”
The training also focused on targeting and assessment of drivers of stunting. Mr. George Kembo, the FNC Director, said, “Targeting is aimed to improve the situation without creating social discourse. We are happy to impart knowledge to both the targeted households as well as the generic community within the identified area. Even those without any problem, can benefit from the accumulated knowledge”.
The participants were also trained on the ward action plan which was conducted through group work, focus group discussions, and talks on components of ward action plan and how to develop the monthly action plan. The importance of adopting a holistic approach within a community facing stunting focusing on inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impact as a stunting reduction were shared.
UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Charity Zvandaziva highlighted that Ward Food and Nutrition Security Committees (WFNSCs) and Village Food and Nutrition Security Committees (VFNSCs) should be told to prioritize key problems, and classify the interventions, required actions within a time frame, potential barriers and strategies to overcome challenges as mentioned in the action plan template
The training also looked at the advantage of using technology in carrying out ‘near real time monitoring system’ (NRTM) and the role of ward and village level FNSCs in data collection, analysis and reporting. Related data will have a two-way flow from village level to the national level. Moving from paper based data collection, participants learnt the functionality of the Open Data Kit through household module, ward module, FNS Committees functionality module, social accountability module and alert module.
Mr. Tafadzwa Mufudza, the Environmental Health Technician officer said the NRTM will facilitate effective monitoring for reducing stunting in Chiredzi.
“Before, we used to focus only on the environmental aspect, but now there are indicators on nutrition, agriculture, education, youth and social services, which will assist us in reducing stunting in the district”.