The African Women’s Collaborative for Healthy Food Systems joined a community outreach programme organized by Eswatini’s Ministry of Health to promote healthy food systems, environmental protection and campaigns against child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
Speaking after the community service event held at eMbandeni area under Manzini region, the Collaborative’s Steering Committee member, Zakithi Sibandze, said the initiative brought together health services and community education to improve people’s well-being.
“The Ministry of Health brought a number of health services, and we were there to promote healthy food systems through indigenous seeds,” Sibandze said.
She said the Collaborative shared traditional knowledge on the medicinal and nutritional value of indigenous seeds, including red maize, which nutritional research suggests is rich in antioxidants with the potential to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth and slow tumour progression. The initiative also promoted other traditional grains valued for their role in supporting bone health, particularly among growing children.
Sibandze said the outreach also promoted environmental conservation by encouraging communities to recycle household waste, such as organic materials. She said organic waste could be composted and used to improve soil fertility in household gardens, helping to promote sustainable food production.
In addition to nutrition and environmental awareness, the event served as a platform to address social challenges affecting rural communities, including early marriages.
She said members of the Rural Women’s Assembly Swaziland used the occasion to campaign against child marriage and teenage pregnancy, urging communities to protect the rights of girls and support their education and development.
The campaign forms part of ongoing efforts by women’s organisations in Eswatini to promote healthier communities through improved nutrition, environmental stewardship and the protection of girls’ rights.
