The government of Norway has committed $3.6 million (about K2.6 billion) to support Malawi government’ school meals programme.
Minister of Education Science and Technology Honourable Bright Msaka made the announcement on Monday at Mdzobwe Primary School in Lilongwe.
Msaka hailed Norway government for the timely support into the programme saying the initiative will help in the retention of children in school, reduce malnutrition, infections and opportunistic diseases.
“We are running out of time and without this support, we would have had difficulties continuing to feed our children. But with this support and donation we will continue to feed the children in 13 districts of Malawi for a considerable length of time,” said Msaka.
The minister further said that the government has put in place measures to sustain the program should donors not be there.
Msaka mentioned the issue of communities producing own food to feed the children as one of the sustainable measures which he said is already happening in some areas but what is needed is to expand and develop such places.
World Food Programme (WFP) Country representative Benoit Thiry has welcomed the support saying the programme has enabled one million children nationwide to access school meals.
