Prior to the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Sierra Leone, 3 out of 10 children were malnourished, with 41 % of children 0-6 months not exclusively breastfed. This situation has been worsened by the outbreak of COVID-19.
To address this problem, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) with support from Irish Aid, Japan and Edesia on August 14 2020 launched a nationwide implementation of the moderately acute malnutrition treatment program in Kenema for children 6-59 months, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Country Director WFP, Dr.HousainouTaal thanked Irish Aid and the Government of Japan for providing the funds to reactivate the provision of specialized, nutritious food to malnourished children and mothers whose situation had been worsened by COVID-19.
He said that WFP will continue to work with the Government to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls.
“WFP has been implementing the stunting prevention program in districts with the highest rates of stunting first as pilot in Moyamba and now in Kambia and Pujehun districts, complemented by Social Behavioural Change Communication messages in 24 Peripheral Health units, targeting about 54,000 children 6-23 months, pregnant and lactating women and girls,” he said.
The Deputy Minister 2 of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), Dr. Amara Jambai said that the treatment program will help to reduce the number of children becoming severely malnourished. He reiterated the need for all stakeholders to work together to stem stunting which has a permanent impact on the child, affecting his/her future productivity.
In a statement read on behalf of the Head of Development at the, ceremonya representative of the Irish Embassy, Mary O’Neill, said that the overarching priority of Ireland in the COVID-19 crisis response is to ensure that their development program contributes to reducing the incidents and mitigating the impact of the pandemic among vulnerable populations.
“We are delighted to see the program launched today and we will continue to ensure close collaboration with partners to champion the advocacy for global action to end hunger and undernutrition globally as well as in Sierra Leone,” she said.
Over 64,000 children 6-59 months, pregnant and lactating women across the 16 districts in the country will benefit from the program.
By Sumner Kongbap