Congo-Brazzaville workshop lays the foundation to accelerate efforts for scaling up nutrition

On 25th May 2015, the Congo-Brazzaville multi-stakeholder platform was brought together by the Secretary General of the Presidency of Congo Brazzaville, Jean Baptist Ondaye, who is also the SUN Government Focal Point. Representatives from multiple sectors included parliamentarians, advisors to the President, heads of departments, officials from line ministries, representatives of United Nations Organizations and civil society.

The three day workshop resulted in the adoption of an operational framework for the implementation of the strategy against malnutrition in Congo and a draft decree to establish responsibilities, organization and functioning of the National Food and Nutrition Council. A presentation by the Director of Public Health, Kitembo Lambert presented the nutritional situation in the Congo Brazzaville where prevalence of chronic malnutrition is 24%; acute malnutrition is 6% and more than 60,000 children who are at high risk of getting sick and dying. 

“If no action is taken during the window of opportunity from conception to the age of 2 years, malnutrition is irreversible and jeopardize the generational cycle” – Anthony Kwaku Ohemeng-Boamah, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Congo-Brazzaville

Several strategic priorities were discussed including strengthening the institutional, normative and legal structures to fight malnutrition, extending coverage of direct and sensitive nutrition interventions, communication for development and strengthening research capacities.

Learn more about the event at AllAfrica