TANZANIA YAPONGEZWA KUSHUGHULIKIA MASUALA YA UDAMAVU NA UTAPIAMLO

IRINGA: Kaimu Balozi wa Marekani Dk Inmi Patterson amepongeza juhudi zinazofanywa na serikali ya Tanzania katika kushughulikia masuala ya udamavu na utapiamlo vinavyoathari wananchi wengi nchini . 

Balozi huyo alisema hayo jana wakati wa uzinduzi wa ghala jipya la Mama Seki sambamba na mashine ya kusaga unga wa mahindi wa lishe bora iliyotolewa kwa msaada wa serikali ya marekani kupitia mradi wa NAFAKA, ikiwa sehemu ya ziara yako mkoani Iringa. 

Dk Patterson alisema kuwa Tanzania ina aslimia 34 ya wakazi wake wanaoishi na udumavu na utapiamlo huku wilaya za Iringa, Njombe na Songwe zote zikiwa na viwango vya utapiamlo kwa zaidi ya asilimia 40. 

Alisema kuwa juhudi zaidi zinahitajika katika kuboresha masuala ya elimu bora na lishe bora ili kuweza kufikia malengo yaliyokusudiwa na serikali ya kupunguza matatizo ya udumavu na utapiamlo nchini. 

Alisema kuwa ukosefu wa lishe unamfanya mtu asiweze kufikia malengo yake kwa vile udumavu huathiri mwili na akili. 

Dk Patterson pia aliongeza kuwa watoto wenye lishe duni hawafanyi vizuri shuleni, kitu amabcho kina punguza fursa na hatima ya ajira siku za mbeleni. 

“Ninayo furaha kwa kuwa sehemu ya mafaniko ya Mama Seki katika kuzindua mashine ya kuzalisha unga wa mahindi bora unaopatikana katika Mkoa wa Iringa na katika maeneo yote ya nyanda za juu kusini. Biashara ya Mama Seki inasaidia juhudi za serikali katika kushughulikia masuala ya udumavu na utapiamlo yanayoiathari nchi hii…,” alisema kaimu balozi wa marekani. 

Alisisitiza kuwa watu wazima wenye lishe duni hawawezi kufanya kazi, kuchangia katika uchumi wa ndani, na kutoa huduma kwa famila zao. 

“Wamama wenye lishe duni wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kupata watoto wenye uzito mdogo, ambao pia wana hatari kubwa ya kuathirika kimwili na akiakili, ” alisema Dk Patterson. 

Alisema kuwa uwepo wa ghala jipya la Mama Seki na kiwanda cha kuzalisha wa bidhaa bora na lishe kunaonesha ufanisi wa ushirikiano kati ya serikali mbili za Tanzania na Marekani kutambua na kuunga mkono biashara za wanawake ili kuboresha nafasi zao za kiuchumi. 

Naye, Ritha Sekilovele, Mkurugezi wa Kampuni ya ‘Super Seki Investment’ alitoa shukrani kwa mradi wa USAID NAFAKA kwa kuweza kumsaidia mambo mengi ambayo kimsingi ndiyo wameweza kumfikisha hapo. 

Alisema kuwa mradi huo umempatia mashine mbili za kurutubisha unga wa mahindi zenye thamani ya shilingi milioni 22,840,000/- ambazo zinasaidia kusindika unga ulioogezwa virutubishi kama mpamgo wa serikali ulivyo lenga kupunguza utapiamlo na udumavu katika Mkoa wa Iringa. 

Alisema kuwa alianza shughuli za kusindika unga wa mahindi miaka 25 iliyopita akiwa na mtaji mdogo, lakini kupitia mradi wa NAFAKA kwa kipindi cha miaka miwili iliyopita ameongeza mara mbili uzalishaji wake kufikia tani 15 za unga kwa siku, ambapo asilimia 15 ya uzalishaji wake hutumia kuzalisha unga bora wa mahindi. 

Sekilovele (Mama Seki) alisema kuwa mradi huo pia umemsaidia kumuunganisha na wanunuzi wa bidhaa zake ndani na nje ya nchi kwa mfano wameweza kumkutanisha na wanunuzi wa huko Kenya na ataanza kuuza bidhaa hizo pindi tu majibu ya samuli za vibali vya ubora wa bidhaa vitakapotoka. 

Pia masoko ya unga ulioongezwa virutubishi yameongezeka na kuuza ndani ya Mkoa wa Iringa na nje ya mkoa kama vile Morogoro, Kilombero, Lindi na Mtwara. 

Hata hivyo, Mama Seki alisema kuwa zipo changamoto anazokukatanazo katika shughuli za usindikaji ikiwemo vifaa vya kuhifadhia malighafi (mahindi) ambavyo imekuwa changamoto kwake, kwani saa zingine mahindi yanaharibika kulingana na hali halisi ya mazingira anayotunzia. 

Alisema kuwa changamoto nyingine ni umeme kwenye jengo lake jipya ni mdogo ambao unauwezo wa kuendesha mashine moja tu, hivyo kushindwa kusaga kwa wakati na kuweza kuhudumia masoko yake. 

Kwa upande wake, Mkuu wa Wilaya Iringa Richard Kasesela kwa niba Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa Ally Hapi, aliipongeza serikali ya Marekani kwa kuunga juhudi za serikali ya Tanzania katika sera ya uchumi wa viwanda. 

Alisema kuwa uzinduzi wa ghala jipya na mashine za kusindika unga wa mahindi linaonesha ufanisi wa ushirikiano kati ya serikali hizo mbili kutambua, na kuunga mkono biashara za wanawake ili kuboresha nafasi zao za kiuchumi. 

DC Kasesela alisema kuwa mafanikio ya Mama Seki ni mfano wa hatua kubwa katika uwezeshaji wa wanawake, afya ya jamii na ukuaji wa sekta ya kilimo kwa kufanya kazi kwa pamoja kati ya serikali zote mbili. 

Kuhusu tatizo la umeme, alisema kuwa serikali ya Mkoa wa Iringa itahakikisha kuwa tatizo hilo la umeme kuwa mdogo katika jengo jipya linapatiwa ufumbuzi haraka iwezekanavyo ili kiwanda hicho kiweze kuendesha mashine zote mbili na kusaga unga kwa wakati. 

US HAILS TANZANIA FOR ADDRESSING STUNTING AND UNDERNOURISHMENT

By Friday Simbaya, Iringa 

The Chargé d'Affaires of US Embassy in Tanzania Dr. Inmi Patterson has expressed thanks for the efforts made by the Tanzanian government in addressing the issues of stunting and malnutrition that affect most citizens in the country. 

She made the statement said yesterday during the inauguration of ‘Mama Seki’ milling machine that fortify maize flour in Iringa, with the support of the American government through the NAFAKA project during her visit to Iringa. 

Dr. Patterson said that Tanzania has 37 percent of people with stunting and undernourishment, while Iringa, Njombe and Songwe districts all have malnutrition rates for more than 40 percent. 

She said more efforts were needed to improve education and nutrition issues in order to meet the government's aims to alleviate stunting and malnutrition in the country. 

She said that lack of nutrition makes one unable to achieve his goals because stunting growth affects the body and mind. 

Dr Patterson also added that pupils with poor nutrition are not doing well at school, something less likely to reduce the opportunities and future fate of employment. 

"I'm happy to be part of Mother Seki's success in launching the best maize flour machine available in the Iringa Region and in all areas of the southern highlands. Mrs. Seki's business supports government efforts in addressing the issues of depression and malnutrition that affect this country ..., "said acting ambassador to the United States. 

She stressed also that people poor nutrition cannot work, contribute to the local economy, and provide services to their families. 

"Low-nutrition mothers are more likely to have children with less weight, who also have serious risk of physical and psychological infections," said Dr. Patterson. 

She said that the presence of Mrs. Seki's new warehouses and production plant for good quality nutrition products demonstrates the effectiveness of cooperation between two governments Tanzanian and the United States to identify and support women's businesses to improve their economic position. 

“Even with your recent success, I encourage you to continue working with the both governments, Sanku Healthy Children, and other actors within the maize value chain to identify new markets,” Dr Patterson said. 

She said that supply of fortified maize flour to schools, hospitals, clinics, stores and other locations throughout the Southern Highlands that will benefit from accessing your fortified maize product in order to tackle the malnutrition and health problems that exist in this country. 

Also, Ritha Sekilovele, 'Super Seki Investment' Company Director, thanked Feed the Future, NAFAKA USAID's project for helping her with the many things that she had been able to achieve. 

She said that the project has provided two maize milling machines worth 22,840,000 / - shillings that help to process maize flour with nutrients as government efforts that aims to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Iringa Region. 

She said she started the job of processing maize flour for the last 25 years with a small capital, but through the NAFAKA project for the past two years she has doubled her production to 15 tonnes per day, with 15% of her production being used to produce fortified maize flour. 

Sekilovele (Mama Seki) said that the project has also helped her connect with its buyers both domestic and abroad , for example, able to associate with Kenyan buyers and will begin selling these products as soon as the product approval permits ready. 

Mother Seki said, however, that there are challenges in the processing activities including the maize raw materials keeping that have been challenging to her, that at times maize is damaged due to poor storage environment. 

She said the other challenge is power supply in her new building is a limited only capable of running one maize milling machine, so that she cannot able to serve her markets on time. 

On his part, Iringa Regional Commissioner Richard Kasesela, on behalf of Iringa Regional Commissioner Ally Hapi, commended the US government for supporting the government of Tanzania in the industrial economy policy. 

He said the launching of a new warehouse and maize milling machines demonstrates the effectiveness of cooperation between the two governments, and supports women's businesses to improve their economic opportunities. 

DC Kaseela said that Mrs. Seki's success was a major step towards women's empowerment, community health and agricultural sector growth by working jointly between the two governments. 

Regarding the electrical problem, he said that the Regional Government would ensure that the electricity problem being small in the new building was provided as soon as possible for the factory to operate both machines and to grind flour at a time. 

Kasesela said they are to work closely with Mama Seki to assist in supplying her warehouse with the TANESCO ensuring that she can continue to expand her fortification and maize flour business. 

It is a fact that Iringa is one among regions that have been affected by malnutrition; therefore strategic efforts must be taken into account to fight against the problem. 

One effort is the action being taken by NAFAKA project and their partner, SANKU, on fortification program.