The training being held at the National Nutrition Agency Conference Hall is under the “Good Nutrition Starts With Me” Youth Initiative. The training aims to equip the youth and media with the knowledge and skills to practice good nutrition as well as to promote it within their communities.
AfriCAN received a Grant from Rockefeller Foundation (RF) for the implementation of the “Good Nutrition Starts With Me” Youth Initiative Project. The “Good Nutrition Starts With Me” Youth Initiative is under Strategic Pillar 2: Capacity Enhancement of the AfriCAN Strategic Plan (2024 to 2028).
Isatou Jallow, executive director for Africa Catalyzing Action for Nutrition (AfriCAN) in her opening remarks, explained that AfriCAN’s approach, is to inform, educate, advocate, and inspire action at all levels and the goal is for communities to become “Nutrition Literate”, with the knowledge, skills, and the will to improve their nutrition situation individually and collectively.
Madam Jallow added that they aim to bridge the gap between policy and action and between political will and the people’s will, while inspiring the youth to rise to the malnutrition challenge.
The nutrition expert went on to say that so much is being done towards eliminating malnutrition but observed that there is still a long way to go to meet the targets set out by the African Union and the sustainable development goal number 2 to end hunger and malnutrition.
She highlighted that Africa’s greatest resource to achieve anything for the continent is its people. She specifically highlighted the African youth whom she described as innovative and bold, noting that “if we work together and have a common vision and goal for the African continent, we can achieve anything for the continent.”
She also said that AfriCAN’s mission is to mobilise and harness Africa’s untapped and underutilised resources towards improving nutrition sustainably on the continent. These resources include local foods, local traditional knowledge, the local media, among others.
Dr Amat Bah, executive director for the National Nutrition Agency highlighted the numerous successes registered by his agency towards nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding and other areas.
He urged participants to put the knowledge gaining during the training into practice to ensure others emulate them to ensure a healthy nation.
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