By Leah Malimbasa, MANA
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha, has urged traditional leaders to take a leading role in encouraging parents to enrol their children at Community-Based Child Care Centres (CBCCs).
Navicha made the call on Monday during a visit to Mpokonyola CBCC in Traditional Authority Katunga, Chikwawa District, where she inspected Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities under Feed the Children’s Lower Shire VitaMeal Distribution Initiative.
“I would also like to thank Feed the Children for introducing the Lower Shire VitaMeal Distribution Initiative, which is significantly improving the health of our children here and encouraging parents to send their children to CBCCs,” said Navicha.
She noted that CBCCs play multiple roles, including promoting cognitive development and contributing to children’s nutritional needs.
“Some mothers have lost their children due to malnutrition, and as a mother myself, I understand how painful that is,” she said.
The Minister further explained that children who pass through CBCCs enrol in primary school with a stronger foundation and generally perform better than those who go straight to primary school without ECD exposure.
In his remarks, Feed the Children Country Representative McHenry Makwelero said CBCCs enable parents to focus on economic activities such as farming and small-scale businesses, knowing that their children are well cared for and fed.
He added that Feed the Children has decided to extend the duration of the initiative after observing continued need among children.
“We have been impressed with how the programme is being managed, and we have noted that children still require this support. As a result, we are extending the initiative beyond the initial two months in the 241 CBCCs we are supporting in Chikwawa,” he said.
One of the parents, Estere Mkangowanjala, who has two children enrolled at Mpokonyola CBCC, said the programme has allowed her to concentrate on farming, knowing that her children are well fed at the centre.
