Over 668m/- spent on nutrition interventions in Singida Region

SINGIDA: MORE than 668.3m/- was spent on nutrition interventions across seven local government authorities in Singida Region during the 2024/2025 financial year, the government has announced.

Singida Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Dr Fatuma Mganga revealed the matter early this week during the official opening of the Evaluation Meeting for the Implementation of the National Multi sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP) held in Singida.

In a speech read on her behalf by Acting Regional Administrative Secretary Boaz Kajigili, Dr Mganga said the expenditure represented 89.58 per cent of the 746.03m/-allocated for the programme.

“The sixth phase government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, recognises the importance of investing in maternal and child health and nutrition as a foundation for sustainable development. That’s why such a significant amount of resources has been committed,” she said, adding “Good nutrition is a catalyst for progress across all sectors.”

Dr Mganga explained that the funds were used for procuring therapeutic milk for treating malnutrition, organising cooking demonstrations, establishing school gardens, conducting nutrition contract review meetings, facilitating nutrition committee sessions, inspecting food in markets and factories and supervising nutrition services at the community level.

She also noted that the region has prioritised the promotion of fortified foods to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.

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As part of this effort, 33 maize flour fortification machines have been installed in local councils with 206 schools now using fortified flour to prepare meals for students.

“I urge all stakeholders to fully utilise the National Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme to improve child nutrition and combat malnutrition, especially stunting. This is key to building a healthy, creative and productive society,” she said.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of ESTL, the organisation implementing NM-ECDP in Singida, Mr Joshua Ntandu, called on regional authorities to strengthen efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

He warned that perpetrators of FGM have become increasingly innovative in hiding their actions, making it harder to enforce the law.

“Although national statistics show that FGM prevalence in Singida is around 45 per cent among girls under five, getting accurate data is extremely difficult due to the secretive nature of the practice and the young age at which it is performed,” he said.

“By the time the girls grow up and realise what was done to them, they suffer immensely, mentally and psychologically.”