Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
A ground-breaking nutrition program launched five years ago in Gwanda, is yielding results in addressing micronutrient deficiencies among children .
The nutrition programme, spearheaded by the Food and Nutrition Council in collaboration with several local and international universities, including the University of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi University of Technology, and UK-based Abertay University and University of Sheffield, is assisting to reduce stunting rates among children.
“Work package three was the human trial. This was a trial to test the effectiveness of mopane worm fortified porridge, the effect on nutrition status of primary school aged children. So these are children between seven and 13-years-old. So after six months of feeding these children mopane worm porridge, we had two groups right, one group was the control group it received mopani worm with the millet mixed that was the intervention group and the second group only received millet porridge only for six months.
“So, after six months we did some measurements anthropometric measurements and we also did some, we took some blood samples and preliminary results from anthropometry right now show us that the stunting rate in the intervention group went down and in the control group the stunting rate remained the sasam.The results however of the blood sampling are still yet to come early in 2025,” said Co-Principal Investigator Insects for Nutrition Study, Dr Prosper Chopera.
University of Zimbabwe Head of Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences Dr Tonde Matsungo weighed in, “So far the preliminary results are promising and our hope is that once we finish the analysis the results that if will help us to decide what to do with the porridge but what the results actually mean for Gwanda and the people of Zimbabwe is that we end up upscaling the utilization of mopane worm in the production of porridge that can be given to children even in primary schools as part of the school feeding programme.”
“We know historically, but without the necessary scientific backup, that local foods promote human growth and also were associated or were found or perceived to be associated with long life. So the interest of the FNC is now to bring the science around the micronutrient composition of these foods. So we are also looking at mopane worms, crickets and all other edible insects within the country with a desire to ensure that we also come up with a nutrition characterization by geographical area to which we can characterize the nutrient benefits of the foods found or available within a geographical distribution area or within a district or within a ward. So that we promote nutrition optimization. So that we have an outcome on the basis of what is locally available,” explained Food and Nutrition Council Director General, Dr George Kembo.
Villagers from Garanyemba in Gwanda, where a six-month human trial was conducted among 7-14 year-old children, are appreciative of the program.
“This programme came in and helped our children, especially those who were not doing so well in terms of nutrition.This year has been difficult because of the el nino induced drought families did not have enough food but this porridge helped us avert that hunger among our children.My child used to struggle to concentrate in class because we did not have enough food. But since she started eating the porridge in the morning before leaving for school, she has improved. This term, she performed very well. Even the other children who were taking the porridge are doing very well in terms of their health.”
Matabeleland South Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mrs Latiso Dhlamini-Maseko, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that communities have access to nutritious food, despite the challenges posed by the current El Niño-induced drought.
“Matabeleland South Province is one of the worst affected provinces. First and foremost, we are in region 4 and 5, region which is characterised by very low rainfall. Even in a normal season, the rain is very low, meaning that we already have food deficit, be it an El Niño-induced year or a normal year. So the question about government interventions, yes, government is doing a lot. We have food distribution that is done through the Department of Social Welfare, which is feeding firstly the vulnerable people.But the moment we have amacimbi and people are surviving through that insect,” she said.
The award-winning Insects for Nutrition program, recognized at the recent Presidential Innovation Fair Awards, aligns with Zimbabwe’s efforts to combat nutrient deficiencies.
