By Lamina Kamara

The Scaling Up Nutrition and Food System Coordination Unit in the office of the Vice President in collaboration with UNICEF held an orientation and advocacy workshop at the Bintumani Hotel Conference Hall on the Power of Community Health Workers in Scaling Up Nutrition for Sierra Leone on the 5th December 2024.

It could be recalled that in an effort to pursue the elimination of hunger and malnutrition in all its forms in Sierra Leone, during the Nutrition for Growth UK Summit in 2013, the government committed to scale up community support networks for nutrition and food security. Since then, the government of Sierra Leone, especially under the current dispensation has made significant gains in improving the country’s nutrition status.

Over the years, the Community Health Workers (CHWs) programme has expanded and plays a crucial role in enhancing the delivery of health and nutrition interventions, particularly in remote and underserved areas in Sierra Leone.

As key frontline healthcare providers, community health workers deliver essential health and nutrition services to women, newborns, children, and adolescents. As such, the CHWs contribute significantly to improving health and nutrition outcomes, particularly in rural areas where access to formal health facilities is limited. Part of the community-based health and nutrition workforce are the Mother Support Groups working under the CHWs attached to respective health facilities in respective villages.

The overall objective of the orientation and advocacy workshop was to raise awareness of the vital work of CHWs for improving nutrition outcomes in Sierra Leone and to motivate multisectoral stakeholders at national and district levels to integrate, leverage, and advocate for them in their cross-cutting work.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of State Madam Manty Tarawalli emphasized the government’s commitment to the support and welfare of community health workers and the expansion of SUN Unit and Food System Coordination Unit which are under the supervision of the Vice President.

Madam Tarawalli said scaling up nutrition is critical to improving public health, particularly in vulnerable populations.

It is obvious that government efforts, particularly within the framework of the Scaling Up Nutrition and Food System Coordination Units can be enhanced by effectively engaging and supporting Community Health Workers (CHWs).

She highlighted how the government’s nutrition sector can support, integrate, and advocate for CHWs, along with three key commitments/pledges: Support CHWs through Training and Capacity Building; Integrate CHWs into Nutrition and Health Systems; and Advocate for CHWs at All Levels.

Dr. Mohammed B. Jalloh, the CEO of FOCUS 1000 CEO; SUN Civil Society Representative, Honorable Chief Ali Marah; UNICEF Deputy Country Representative – Madam Liv Elin Indreiten; Deputy Minister of Health 1 – Dr. Charles Senassie; and many other dignitaries made strong calls for more efforts and supports in scaling up nutrition in Sierra Leone.