On May 2 2024, Ifakara Health Institute participated in a stakeholders' meeting organized by The Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) to address the crucial need for standards in food packaging. The focus was on ensuring that packaging includes information vital for consumers to make smarter choices.

Ifakara was represented by Dr. Sally Mtenga, Head of the Health Systems, Interventions, Impact Evaluation and Policy department. Specifically, she said, "the meeting was about front of pack labelling of food processed products as part of NCD [non-communicable diseases] prevention initiative."

This initiative aims to combat the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, largely attributable to poor nutrition. TAWLA has been actively advocating for government regulations that mandate accurate and comprehensible information on food packaging to empower consumers.

TAWLA, a non-governmental organization (NGO), is dedicated to advocating for and safeguarding the legal and constitutional rights of women. Their vision is to empower communities and safeguard women's rights, while their primary mission centers around defending women's rights and promoting good governance through legal empowerment.

Recognizing that health concerns intersect various sectors, TAWLA convened this one-day meeting to introduce this program and emphasize the significance of standardized packaging. Discussions centered on how stakeholders can collaborate with the government to address the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases.