The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition takes great pleasure in announcing the launch of a new clinical nutrition dietetics program in Malawi.
This program was supported in its conceptualization, preparation and management by Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, in collaboration with Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi, and now accredited by the Medical Council of Malawi. The first dietetic students will be admitted in early April 2016.
This activity has involved a close collaboration with Alex Kalimbira, the Nutrition Lab’s partner at LUANAR, who was enthused by the news: “For LUANAR, the approval is transformative in the university’s way of conducting its business, and in fulfilling its mandate of contributing to improved quality of lives of Malawians. Ultimately, the implementation of the Clinical Dietetics programme will position the university as a relevant national asset.”
Malawi has many professionals doing excellent work in community nutrition. However, to date there has been only a handful of clinical dietitians working in the country-all trained overseas. Arguably, the most effective dietitian for Malawi is a Malawian, trained in Malawi by fellow Malawians. “Now with this accreditation, we’re almost there” said Molly Uebele, Tufts’ Supervising Dietician in Malawi.