Farmer: Stakeholder Calls for Concerted Effort Toward Improving Nutrition in Liberia

The Head of Project at Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Joseph Ashong says there must be a determined effort toward the improvement of nutrition if Liberia is to achieve food and nutrition security.

According to Ashong, much has not been done by the government and the general public to improve nutrition.

“Some of the issues surrounding improving nutrition in Liberia is how to access nutritious food. This requires the political will and the need for coordination among all stakeholders,” he stated. 

He made the statement recently in an exclusive interview at a one-day stakeholders meeting on nutrition in Monrovia.

The meeting, which was organized by WHH, was part of the UN Food System submit. It seeks to discuss the way forward to the improvement of food and nutrition security in the country.

He said most Liberians' diet still remains rice which provides only carbohydrates for the human body.

“Smallholder farmers and the general Liberian public need adequate education on the kind of food they need to grow and eat in order to have healthy bodies.

“Liberians must prioritize the consumption of various kinds of nutritious foods. Supporting nutrition is key to ensuring food security and making the Pro Poor Agenda of the government a reality,” he added.

According to him, his institution is working with the government to ensure that the nutrition situation facing the country is addressed.

“We tackled the issue of nutrition in many different ways. We worked with smallholder farmers by supporting them with inputs and educating them on hygiene practices,” he explained. 

He said they worked in nine counties to improve the living conditions of the citizens in the areas of health and nutrition.

Ashong further said that his Project has constructed or rehabilitated several health facilities in the South East and Rivercess County to improve health care delivery.

“One of the health facilities constructed by WHH is expected for dedication by the President of Liberia soon in Rivercess County,” he told this newspaper. 

According to him, the health centers are hubs for the teaching and dissemination of nutrition messages to the people.

The WHH Project head added that they were also involved with addressing land issues and improving farm to market roads to improve the lives of those in the rural counties.