In a significant milestone for child nutrition and local empowerment, the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Food and Nutrition, and the Ministry of Agriculture, and Food Security inaugurated four food processing factories for the local production of affordable and enriched complementary food for children aged 6-23 months. The newly launched factories are in Zimmi, Gbangbatoke, Kambia, and Sahn Malen.
One of the primary challenges in promoting child nutrition has been the high cost of food commodities and labour-intensive preparation methods for indigenous complementary foods. To address these issues, WFP, with funding from the French Government, has established small-scale food processing facilities in four communities, which are managed by Mother Support Groups.
These facilities will produce affordable and enriched complementary food known as “Nyam Nyam Pap” using local recipes with nutrient-dense commodities, designed for children aged 6-23 months. This innovative approach contributes to the timely introduction of complementary feeding, while also helping caregivers save time and resources previously spent on food preparation or on sub-optimal feeding solutions.
Mother Support Groups have been strengthened as a strategy to enhance maternal infant and young child feeding, involving community-based nutrition programs. These groups are now empowered to provide nutrition education, conduct cooking demonstrations using locally available foods, and engage in community outreach to identify and refer children at risk of malnutrition.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday 31 October 2023 in Sahn Malen, Pujehun district, Yvonne Forsen, Country Director of the World Food Programme, commended the Mother Support Groups for their commitment to this project, emphasizing that it has been a long journey.
She highlighted that the WFP’s strategic plan for 2020-2025 has shifted from expensive treatment of moderate acute malnutrition to prevention. Forsen explained, “The idea of establishing the production centers in the communities and running them on solar-generated energy is to cut down costs and make the Nyam Nyam Pap accessible and affordable to caregivers. This would not have been possible without the generous donation from the Government of France.”
Romain Vuillaume, Chargé d’Affaires of France in Sierra Leone, underscored the French food aid program’s objective to respond to severe food and nutrition insecurity while strengthening the resilience of rural populations. He commended the government of Sierra Leone for its “Feed Salone” initiative, urging everyone to support it for the country’s food security.
The inauguration of these food processing factories represents a significant step forward in the fight against child malnutrition in Sierra Leone. By empowering local communities and mothers with the tools and knowledge to produce nutritious and affordable complementary foods, this initiative holds the promise of a brighter, healthier future for the nation’s youngest generation.
