In a major stride toward improving child health in Sierra Leone, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh officially launched the National Nutrition Information Management System (NNIMS) and the National Nutrition Commitment Framework (2025–2030) during the first anniversary celebration of the Pediatric Association of Sierra Leone, held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Describing the initiative as a “transformative moment,” Vice President Jalloh emphasized that the new digital platform will enable real-time monitoring of nutrition data, enhance coordination among stakeholders, and promote evidence-based decision-making across government agencies and development partners.
“This tool gives us the opportunity to plan better, make data-driven decisions in real time, and ensure greater transparency and accountability,” he stated.
The Vice President stressed that malnutrition remains one of Sierra Leone’s most urgent development challenges, with serious consequences for child survival, national productivity, and long-term economic growth.
“Addressing malnutrition requires a holistic system one that integrates food security, healthcare delivery, and community interventions,” he added.
The National Nutrition Commitment Framework outlines 11 measurable targets, including: Improved access to nutritious food for 500,000 vulnerable citizens, expansion of school feeding programs to cover all pre-primary and primary school children, ensuring 75% of pregnant women receive multiple micronutrient supplements.
Deputy Minister of Health, Professor Charles Senessie, underscored the need for community engagement and system strengthening as key strategies for tackling child malnutrition. He noted the expansion of healthcare access nationwide and called for behavioral change and local-level interventions to address the root causes of malnutrition.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mellie V. T. Bell, President of the Pediatric Association of Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to clinical care, research, advocacy, and education in the fight against child malnutrition. She cited recent community screening results showing that 20% of children assessed were malnourished, with some suffering from severe acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
Dr. Bell stressed that child malnutrition remains a critical public health threat, particularly for children under five, who constitute nearly 45% of the national population. She also announced the honorary membership of Vice President Jalloh in recognition of his leadership in promoting maternal and child health.
The UNICEF Representative praised the Pediatric Association’s leadership and commended frontline healthcare workers as the first line of defense in addressing malnutrition. She highlighted that one in three children in Sierra Leone is malnourished annually, with over 60,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition reported each year.
“This is not just a health crisis; it is a developmental emergency that demands urgent, cross-sectoral action,” she noted, reaffirming UNICEF’s continued partnership with the government.
In closing, Vice President Jalloh commended the dedication and resilience of Sierra Leone’s healthcare professionals and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with all partners in eradicating malnutrition.
“The gains we have made since 2019 are the result of your hard work. But we cannot move forward as a country without your continued engagement,” he affirmed, before officially opening the Pediatric Association’s annual meeting.