National Nutrition Policy.

The National Nutrition Policy seeks to significantly improve the nutritional status of all Malawians, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups. It is based on, among other things, the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Constitution of Malawi, which states the duty of the State to adopt and implement policies and legislation aimed at achieving adequate nutrition for all in order to promote good health and self sufficiency. This provision recognizes that access to and utilization of nutritionally adequate and safe food in the right quantities is the fundamental right of each individual.
The Policy is divided into four main chapters: The first chapter provides the policy directions and thematic areas with emphasis on defining the vision, mission and goals of the policy, key focus areas and an outline of strategies to facilitate attainment of the policy goals and objectives. The second chapter describes the national framework within which the policy will carried into operation through a National Nutrition Programme. The Programme outlines the main priority areas and activities that will be undertaken in order to achieve the policy targets. The third chapter contains a Nutrition Businness Plan that describes the key stakeholders, their role and responsibilities based on their mandates, priority areas and comparative advantage. The last chapter describes in detail the strategies that will be used by the various sectors in order to contribute to the attainment of the policy goals and objectives. All nutrition stakeholders in the country are expected to use this document for guidance and design and implement services, programmes and projects based on the national policy requirements as stated and in close collaboration with the Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS.
Chapter 1 sets out policy statements, objectives and strategies. Objectives include: incorporation of nutrition in all sectoral policies and programmes for a multi-sectoral approach; improvement institutional capacity at all levels of society for effective delivery of appropriate nutrition services, programmes and interventions; adoption of key optimal nutrition practices; improvement of the quality of services for management of acute malnutrition in under-five children, pregnant and lactating mothers, adolescents and adults; protection consumers from health hazards resulting from contamination, poor food handling techniques and quality; reduction of morbidity from nutrition related diseases and disorders. Strategies focus frequently on improvement of food utilisation and optimilisation of nutrition benefit of available foods throughout the year The Chapter also sets out guiding principles including good governance, the rule of law, community empowerment and sustainable use of natural resources. One of the activities in the framework of reduction of malnutrition is the support of communities to produce indigenous, high nutritive value foods, small livestock and other foods from the six food groups through provision of small loans, promotion of backyard gardens, planting of fruit trees.
Gender equality and equity will be enhanced in all nutrition initiatives to ensure improved nutritional status of women, men, girls and boys.
In Order to protect Malawians from health and nutrition hazards that result from consumption of poor quality and contaminated processed foods, enforcement food safety and quality legislation shall be strenghtened.