BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – Thousands of children across Eswatini are set to benefit from improved health and nutrition following a major donation of Vitamin A and deworming tablets from World Vision Eswatini (WVE) to the Ministry of Health.
The organisation handed over 48,000 Vitamin A tablets and 24,000 Albendazole (400mg) tablets, valued at approximately E55,500, at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mbabane. The donation forms part of World Vision’s global ENOUGH Campaign, an initiative aimed at ending child hunger and malnutrition.
World Vision Eswatini National Director, Amos Zaindi, said the contribution was based on priorities identified by the Eswatini National Nutrition Council (ENNC). He explained that the organisation remained committed to ensuring that every child in Eswatini had access to essential nutrients and a healthy start in life.
“This donation was guided by the needs shared by the Eswatini National Nutrition Council as part of our ongoing collaboration,” Zaindi said. “At World Vision, we are deeply committed to making sure that no child is left behind when it comes to nutrition and wellbeing.”
Zaindi added that the vitamins and deworming tablets were sourced from World Vision U.S. Programmes through the organisation’s Gifts-In-Kind (GIKs) Programme, which channels donated health commodities to communities most in need. The supplements will be distributed as part of national child health and nutrition campaigns targeting children under the age of five.
Receiving the donation, Minister for Health Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula, expressed appreciation for World Vision’s continued partnership. Speaking through the Principal Secretary, Khanya Mabuza, the Minister said supplementation programmes were critical to improving child survival and growth outcomes in Eswatini.
“Supplementation is crucial for children under five, as it significantly reduces childhood morbidity and mortality,” he said. “Worm infections compromise the gut lining and steal essential nutrients, which contributes to malnutrition and anaemia. By administering Albendazole, we ensure that the food our children eat nourishes them, not parasites.”
He added that Vitamin A supplementation helped strengthen children’s immune systems and prevent common infections. “These supplements act as a fundamental shield for our children against preventable diseases,” he said.
The Programme Lead at the Eswatini National Nutrition Council, Siniketiwe Zwane, also commended World Vision for its consistent collaboration with the government in improving child health outcomes. “World Vision continues to be one of our strongest partners in enhancing nutrition among children across the country,” she said.
In his closing remarks, Zaindi called on the Ministry of Health to fast-track the adoption of the National Nutrition Policy, which has remained in draft form since 2015. “Finalising and implementing this policy will provide a clear framework to guide the country’s efforts towards a healthier nation, particularly for our children,” he said.
The donation underscores World Vision’s ongoing commitment to strengthening public health systems and supporting national goals that prioritise the wellbeing of every Liswati child.
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