Nazira Abdula, Ending Malnutrition campaign ambassador: A Powerful Voice for Child Nutrition in Mozambique
By Álvaro Malamba, Communication and Advocacy Coordinator
In Mozambique, where chronic child malnutrition continues to be a significant challenge, the figure of Nazira Abdula, former health minister, wife of the Governor of Nampula Province and Ambassador to World Vision's ENOUGH Campaign, emerges as a fundamental pillar in the fight for a healthier future for children.
Recently featured in an article published by Mozambique most printed paper, "Noticias," Nazira Abdula has dedicated herself to bringing the vital message of nutrition to communities across the country, particularly in Nampula Province, which sadly holds the highest index of child malnutrition in the country. At crucial events, such as the celebrations of International Children's Day, her presence and her words resonate with hope.
World Vision's ENOUGH campaign is a global movement aimed at ending child malnutrition, ensuring that every child has access to adequate food and the necessary healthcare to thrive. As an Ambassador, Nazira Abdula personifies this mission, mobilising families, communities and leaders to prioritise nutrition from early childhood.
Nazira lent her voice during the official launch of the Enough Campaign in Mozambique, where she recalled the government's commitments to combat malnutrition in the country and they include "increasing the use and quality of health and nutrition services at district and community levels, covering 55% of children with the nutrition package, and reducing the percentage of early pregnancies among girls and adolescents aged 15 to 19 from 36 to 31% by 2030."
During one of her notable interventions in Nampula, on the occasion of International Children's Day, Nazira Abdula underscored the importance of utilising locally available and nutritious foods from farms, such as kale, cassava, sweet potato, beans, peanuts, and fruits, to create balanced and rich meals.
"We have nutritious products in our machambas (farms). It is important that mothers learn to combine them and ensure balanced meals," she affirmed, emphasising that nutrition is not a luxury, but rather "a right and a basis for the development of our province."
Her message is clear: a well-nourished child not only has more energy and learns better, but also has a greater chance of growing up with health and dignity. Nazira Abdula's dedication to educating and empowering mothers, providing support, and raising awareness about the urgency of chronic malnutrition (which, unfortunately, still affects 61% of Mozambican children under five years old, according to recent 2022-2023 data released by the Ministry of Health), is a living testament to the impact that leadership and collaboration can have.
Through her role as the Governor's Wife and as an Ambassador for the ENOUGH campaign, Nazira Abdula continues to be an inspiring voice and a driving force in building a Mozambique where every child has the opportunity to live a full and healthy life, free from the burden of malnutrition. World Vision is proud to have such a dedicated ally in its mission to ensure a brighter future for the children of Mozambique.