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Tunduru Nutrition Campaign a Success

Tuesday, 30 June 2015 00:00

Bodaboda riders proudly sport their new shirts in support of the Lishe Ruvuma campaign!Nutrition campaign to end stunting reaches thousands in Tunduru district. Topics covered included proper breastfeeding and nutritional variety in young children, among other things.

Thousands of mothers and young children in Tunduru district have a better understanding of proper nutrition and hygiene practices, thanks to the recent ‘Lishe Ruvuma’ campaign.

The campaign, which was implemented by TCDC in collaboration with the Center for Counseling, Nutrition and Health Care (COUNSENUTH) through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, sought to reduce incidence of stunting in children under 24 months of age. This was achieved with interventions that targeted mothers with young children, local healthcare providers and local officials, as well as other caregivers.

The campaign was launched with a rally at Tunduru’s Baraza la Idd grounds on April 27th that saw over 4000 Tunduru residents attend. Highlights from the launch event included performances by nationally-acclaimed pop stars Izzo Bizness and Belle 9, who took time between some of their most popular songs to tell personal stories about why providing proper nutrition and hygiene for young children was important for them.

“Can’t you see that I’m in great health?” Izzo Bizness asked the crowd during his performance. “This is because my parents provided me with good nutrition when I was a child. Children who are given proper nutrition grow better and have improved abilities.”

Belle 9 echoed these sentiments with a message specifically for new mothers. “Remember: it is very important to breastfeed your newborns exclusively for the first six months of life, without mixing in any other foods. After [introducing solid foods], it is important to feed children well so they can grow healthy!”

In the weeks following the launch event, road shows traveled through Tunduru’s eight wards to conduct interventions with mothers with young children, midwives, community health workers, ward and village officials and other important community figures. Interventions included question and answer sessions, culture and theater performances, and singing and dancing activities.

Volunteers with TCDC’s Community Change Agent (CCA) program distributed thousands of print materials during the campaign, and 25 wall murals were also painted throughout the district to create lasting and sustainable visibility for the campaign’s key message.

The local response to the campaign has been tremendous, with residents commending the “historic” scale of the launch event and praising the campaign’s message and delivery. Regional stake-holders are now asking that the campaign be expanded to other areas to increase the scale of its impact.

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