Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Moeketsi Majoro took a tour around ‘Mate community to explore the work done by women who have taken nutrition to a higher level, working collaboratively under
’Mate Nutrition Club. These women have dedicated their time to invest in a nutritious lifestyle, particularly for unborn, infants and toddler children in that area.
A delegation was made of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Hon. Kemiso Mosenene, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Tefo Mapesela, the Minister of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation Hon.
Motlatsi Maqelepo as well as World Vision as the funder of the good nutrition project. The PM also handed over food parcels to ‘Mate Nutrition Club, which is built of 72
breast-feeding mothers. These were 2Litres cooking oil, 3 boxes of 500g soup, 12kg maize meal, 5kg beans 5 vegetable seedlings. Majoro said he is aware
that Covid-19 caused a tragedy of hunger and starvation but breast feeding mothers in ‘Mate had already begun with producing and preparing food for their
children and their families. “I therefore find it appropriate to applaud you in person since you are a good example to Basotho. You have succeeded to overcome
poverty and other related tragedy in the past years, this was achieved through work performed on daily basis by Food and Nutrition Coordination Office(FNCO) Lesotho which connects
ministries and other government departments, funders (NGOs) and groups or associations responsible for improving food nutrition,” he stated. He said in November 2020
he visited Quthing where they launched manoeuvre to fight against poverty that is induced by Covid-19 pandemic. Majoro highlighted that they are certain that
Lesotho, like other countries, is faced with poverty and poor nutrition due to low produce of food but Covid-19 has revealed that this tragedy needs to be
addressed quickly through fresh produce initiatives. He encouraged all Basotho to learn from ‘Mate community, their chief and the leadership in that community
that the cure of all diseases is in their hands. World Vision Lesotho General Secretary Nyakallo Pokocho commended the ‘Mate Nutrition Club for working hard
and announced that all farmers should unite to form nutrition clubs. She said Basotho are encouraged to produce vegetables and wheat, maize and sorghum in their
homes and fields as well as to rear animals. “I urge all food nutritionist from their offices to go all out and educate people on good food nutrition so that
mothers can do best on their children’s nutrition”. Pokocho indicated that World Vision was made aware by the Ministry of Health (MoH) that there is alarming
malnutrition in health centres hence they implemented a training with clinics whereby they counselled pregnant women so as to encourage them to attend clinic
check-ups and know their due dates. She added that as it has been advised by the MoH, the baby has to be fed at the beginning of the second year, failing which,
a parent has failed the baby’s well-being. On behalf of ‘Mate Nutrition Club Matseko Khoarai said the club started in February 2019 with 15 breastfeeding mothers and two pregnant women.
She said the idea was triggered by babies who had malnutrition thus World Vision trained them. “They educated us on the methods of cooking porridge for our babies (porridges made with tin
fish, peanut butter, tomatoes, eggs and spinach or cabbage)”. They further stated that they were advised to make smart climate plots in their homes (mantloane), tippy tanks, sewage holes and garbage for hygiene.
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