Sanku Leads Community Fortification Engagements in Simiyu Region
As part of Tanzania’s national efforts to strengthen community participation and local ownership of the food fortification agenda, Sanku, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and with support from World Vision Tanzania, conducted a series of community engagement meetings across nine villages in Meatu and Maswa District Councils, Simiyu Region.
The meetings formed part of a broader strategy to reinforce local-level enforcement of food fortification policies and ensure that fortified foods reach vulnerable populations in rural settings. Engagements brought together local government leaders, community representatives, millers, and residents to discuss the role of fortification in improving public health outcomes and reducing micronutrient deficiencies.
During the sessions, district and village leaders were encouraged to integrate food fortification priorities into community governance structures and local development plans. Discussions emphasized the importance of local oversight and accountability in ensuring that fortified foods are consistently available and accessible within communities.
Community members participated in practical demonstrations designed to build understanding of the fortification process. These included live installation demonstrations of a dosifier machine at local milling facilities, real-time explanations of how micronutrients are added to maize flour during milling, and food preparation sessions using fortified maize flour. Participants were able to prepare, cook, and taste fortified porridge enriched with iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12, micronutrients essential for child growth, brain development, and overall health.
The engagements also provided a platform for community members to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss how fortified foods can be incorporated into household diets and institutional feeding programs, particularly in schools.
As a direct outcome of the initiative, 15 schools, including 11 primary schools and four secondary schools, will now access fortified flour from local mills supported and equipped by Sanku. This will contribute to improved school meal programs and strengthen nutrition outcomes for children in the participating communities.
The community engagement activities represent an important step in advancing Tanzania’s fortification agenda by embedding nutrition priorities at the local level. By strengthening awareness, enforcement, and collaboration between communities, local authorities, and millers, the initiative supports long-term public health improvements in rural Tanzania.