Launch of Maximum Intervention Programme (MIP) and National Response on Food and Nutrition During COVID19

Bo Mme le Bo Ntate, Khotsong. Please allow me to pay my respects to:

HIS MAJESTY KING LETSIE III

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER, Dr. MOEKETSI MAJORO WHO IS OUR MIDST,

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

HIS LORDSHIP PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

HIS LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE

HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

HONORABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, ESPECIALLY HON. MAHOOANA KHATI, MP FOR QUTHING

HONOURABLE MINISTERS AND DEPUTY MINISTERS OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY HON. KEMISO MOSENENE, MINITSE IN THE OPM; AND HON. TEFO MAPESELA, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE;

THEIR LORDSHIPS JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND THE HIGH COURT

THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF, MORENA SEEISO NKOEBE

THE CHAIR OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL, NTATE SEKAKE MPITI

THE AREA CHIEF, NTATE LIRA NKOEBE,

HEADS OF UN AGENCIES AND DEAR COLLEAGUES

PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES

THE DIRECTOR, FOOD AND NUTRITION COORDINATION OFFICE

SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

BO MME LE BO NTATE ALL PROTOCOL OBSERVE

On behalf of the United nations in Lesotho, it is my singular honour and privilege to make a few remarks as we launch the Maximum Intervention Programme and National Response on Food and Nutrition.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many nutrition programmes and activities, forcing United Nations agencies and other organizations to re-visit previous priorities and to adjust to the ‘new normal’.

One of the first actions the UN Network (UNN) undertook was to contact all the UN members and government stakeholders to discuss what they could do quickly. A National Integrated Response Plan for COVID-19 had been prepared at the beginning of March but food and nutrition security needed to be emphasized further.

Lesotho’s lockdown measures led to both the public and private sectors closing all services, with severe repercussions on food and nutrition security. At the community level, food access and availability have been particularly constrained. According to the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee report (2020), the country is facing increased socio-economic hardship with a projected rise in its food insecure population from 380,000 to 582,000 (by March 2021) for all the 10 districts.

Right Honourable Prime Minister, Bo Mme le Bo Ntate,

In 2015, Lesotho was among the seven countries in the world that have shown progress in improving child nutrition outcomes, as evidenced by the 6-percentage point reduction in stunting in a period of five years, decreasing from 39% in 2009 (39%) to 33.2% in 2014. Unfortunately, the 2018 MICS (Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey), shows a slight reversal of the gains made where stunting rates increased again to 34.2 %. This shows a chronic food and nutrition security challenge which requires a collective multisectoral approach.

Right Honourable Prime Minister, Bo Mme le Bo Ntate,

Allow me to briefly talk about The Maximum Intervention Programme (MIP) Approach.

We realised that we had to strategically attend to those districts that were already affected by high rates of malnutrition, especially stunting and anaemia: Quthing, Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, Butha-Buthe, and Mohale’s Hoek. The selected intervention used a cross-sectoral approach aimed at diversifying diets in hard-to-reach areas and among the most vulnerable populations, through food production, promotion and awareness of appropriate infant and young child feeding as well as optimal hygiene behaviours. We know that a successful nutrition programming is dependent on multisectoral participation, national leadership and engagement of local actors.

The maximum intervention programme is a package of interventions which brings out solutions to our malnutrition challenges in the country in a multisectoral way.

• With food production we ensure that households have access to nutritious food all year long
• With accompanying nutrition and hygiene information we ensure that caregivers are aware of the importance of breastfeeding in a clean environment
• Through micronutrient supplementation and fortification, we ensure that children get all the necessary micronutrients to prevent deficiencies and support growth.
• This package of interventions when coupled with social safety nets (Food Basket, Cash Transfers and School Feeding programmes etc) are impactful in protecting livelihoods in our communities, ultimately preventing inappropriate coping mechanisms.
• We also need to strive for integrated climate smart innovations into our food and nutrition initiatives.
• To provide an enabling environment for child development and growth, Ladies and Gentlemen as we engage with our communities let us work together in the fight against Gender Based Violence and prevention of Early childhood marriages.  

Right Honourable Prime Minister, Bo Mme le Bo Ntate,

Working together will contribute to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

I wish to commend Lesotho for the high-level commitment to nutrition for at least three reasons. First and foremost, our Head of State, His Majesty King Letsie III is AU Champion on Nutrition and FAO Special Ambassador for Nutrition.  Second, Nutrition has been given a prominent place in the NSDPII.  Last but by no means least, the political will demonstrated by the Right Honourable The Prime Minister through his presence here today, along with honourable ministers.  Mohlomphehi Tona-Kholo, ke ea leboha for your leadership.  I formulate the wish that, we can gather again to celebrate the results of this programme.

I also wish to publicly thank my team namely FAO, WFP, UNICEF and UN REACH for working tirelessly with your office- the Food and Nutrition Coordinating Office in putting these efforts together as we strive towards making Maximum intervention Approach a reality.

Ntate allow me to present to you a package of seeds and educational materials.  The materials promote vegetable production, dietary diversity and child feeding during COVID19. They also include COVID19 awareness messages and hand and respiratory hygiene.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Khotso Pula Nala