28/02/2026
๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ช๐๐ ๐ฎ
๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ 2026 | ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,
The Ministry of Health has intensified the implementation of the ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐โ ๐ฌ๐
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๐พ๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฎ๐ฌ๐พ๐ฌ๐ณ 2) through a Nutrition Support Group (NSG) training targeting 60 Health Care Worker (HCW) Focal Point Persons in Chibombo and Monze Districts of Central and Southern Provinces. The training is supported by the World Bank and cooperating partners.
Through GEWEL 2, the Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the nutritional status of women and children by leading the rollout of key nutrition interventions. The project focuses on vulnerable households, particularly those with pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under 24 months.
Speaking during the official opening of the NSG training in Chibombo, Central Province Provincial Health Director Dr. Elijah M. Mutoloki emphasized the importance of implementing the NSG model at community level. He described the model as a critical platform through which Health Care Workers and Community-Based Volunteers (CBVs) engage families in one-on-one and group discussions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding practices, strengthening health-seeking behaviours, promoting positive behaviour change, and ensuring coordinated service delivery.
Dr. Mutoloki urged HCWs to implement the NSG model using a multisectoral approach by engaging key line ministries, the National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia (NFNC), and non-governmental organisations. He further highlighted that the Ministry continues to implement high-impact nutrition interventions under the First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme, recognizing the long-term benefits of early childhood nutrition.
He cautioned that undernutrition in children adversely affects cognitive development and physical growth, ultimately undermining national productivity. He also noted that undernutrition among women can result in poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages and low birth weight.
At the same event, Director of Health Services Dr. Hendrix Yona expressed appreciation for the continued support from cooperating partners and pledged enhanced efforts toward achieving greater impact. โWe are ready to work โ Chibombo means hard work,โ he remarked.
In Monze District, a similar training was conducted, where Public Health Specialist Dr. Brian Habasimbi officiated on behalf of the Southern Province Provincial Health Director. He underscored the critical role of health workers in driving GEWEL 2 activities, noting that communities rely on their expertise. He encouraged participants to translate knowledge into action through functional Nutrition Support Groups, strengthened nutrition education, and the promotion of appropriate and affordable mixed diets.
The training in Monze was attended by District Health Director Dr. Gocho Kapoba and Dr. Singogo, GEWEL 2 Project Coordinator for the nutrition-specific component under the Ministry of Health.
Under GEWEL 2, the Ministry is implementing targeted nutrition-specific interventions to address all forms of malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies among vulnerable populations. These interventions include the provision of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women and Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) for children under two years of age. The nutrition-specific component of the project is currently being piloted in Chibombo and Monze Districts.
Credit:
Christopher Mfula - Communications and Public Relations - Ministry of Health
Mike Sinkala - Senior Health Promotions Officer โ Central Province
GEWEL 2 Zambia
World Bank Group
Ministry of Education- Zambia
Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Zambia
Gender Division - GD
