Africa-Press – Eswatini. No child should suffer because of hunger. This was the driving message as the Ministry of Health and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation from the Republic of China (Taiwan) sealed a new partnership to strengthen the fight against child malnutrition in Eswatini.
The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today September 11,2025 at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini, in the presence of government officials and Tzu Chi Foundation representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health Hon l. Mduduzi Matsebula, Principal Secretary Khanyakwezwe Mabuza expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s continuous support, highlighting that it a donation of 4 800 packages of 2kg nutritional powders.
“These commodities are a lifeline for our most vulnerable children and have been approved by our nutritionists,” Mabuza said. “They will be strategically distributed across the country to treat and manage malnutrition cases, ensuring that no child is left behind.”
The foundation, which has a global presence through its International Medical Association of doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, and volunteers, has carried out over 19 225 medical outreaches in 59 countries, benefiting nearly 4.7 million people worldwide.
The Vice President of Tzu Chi Foundation, Lin Pi-Yu, emphasized the importance of strengthening community-level healthcare initiatives and expressed readiness to support Eswatini in expanding such programmes.
She also praised the nation’s strides in lowering infant mortality rates, pointing to collaboration as a key driver of progress.
The Eswatini National Nutrition Council welcomed the initiative, noting the urgent need for reliable nutritional support. Head of Programme, Sniketiwe Zwane, said:
“Malnutrition remains a major concern in the country. This partnership will help us strengthen the supply of nutritional products, which is vital. In the past, when supplies ran out, children’s lives were at risk. Through this collaboration, we can reach vulnerable groups and save lives.”
Currently, child admissions and deaths due to malnutrition range from 5% to 10%, a figure the Ministry hopes to reduce through this strengthened partnership.
This publication also reported that the Tzu Chi Foundation Eswatini donated 150 breastfeeding pillows to the Ministry of Health during the official launch of World Breastfeeding Week 2025 on August 4, 2025. The donations were a key part of the launch event, which featured the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding – Create Sustainable Support Systems” and was hosted by the Ministry of Health through the Eswatini National Nutrition Council.
The MoU not only symbolizes a step forward in tackling child malnutrition but also reaffirms the enduring friendship between Eswatini and Taiwan, with healthcare at the center of their cooperation.
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