LUSAKA District Commissioner Rosa Zulu has commended the National Food and Nutrition Commission and Plan International Zambia for orienting government line Ministries on the National Management Information System (NMIS) tool, used to collect and analyse nutrition information.
Ms. Zulu says the government has been implementing a number of activities but tracking of statistics on the people reached through various activities has been a challenge for both the government and stakeholders.
She was speaking when she officially opened a three days data review meeting at Chimutunzi Executive Lodge in Chongwe District.
ZANIS reports that the District Commissioner emphasised the need for data entry, noting that the government can only plan accurately for its people when they have precise information and data on what is happening on the ground.
“Data collection will help us know how the government has been fairing in terms of service delivery to the citizens and who has been reached, using different interventions,” She explained.
She further said her office will monitor the data entry by officers under her jurisdiction and ensure that monthly reports are generated without fail.
National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) Statistician Boniface Kanjere, said the nutrition sector is evidence based hence the introduction of the Multi-sectoral Nutrition Commission National Management Information System (NMIS) which DNCC members are using to populate data.
Mr. Kanjere explained that the data under review is for the third quarter which is meant to help in tracking how the nutrition program is fairing amidst the drought the country experienced during the 2023/2024 rainy season.
“Among the government Ministries that are feeding into the National Management Information System include Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, and Ministry of Green Economy and Environment,” he outlined.
And Plan International Zambia National Project Manager Elvis Chilongozi, said the repurposed budget which has funds received from previous activities is meant to provide programs that are responding to the prevailing drought situation in the country.
Mr. Chilongozi explained that the implementation is targeted at household level in order to reach the intended beneficiaries.
“The SUN II program is being implemented in three districts of Zambia namely Lusaka and Chongwe in Lusaka Province and Chiengi in Luapula Province,” he added.
