Nando: The Nando region has just marked a decisive step in its strategy to combat malnutrition by organizing, this Tuesday, the first General Assembly (GA) of its Regional Nutrition Council (CRN). Chaired by the High Commissioner of Ziro Province, in the absence of the Governor, this meeting brought together a number of key stakeholders: representatives from the health, agriculture, education, water, sanitation, and humanitarian sectors. They converged on the Nando Regional Council meeting room to strengthen nutrition coordination and governance.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this assembly is directly in line with the implementation of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for Nutrition 2025-2029, and it also responds to a crucial commitment made by Burkina Faso at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris, held the same year. Focusing on the theme 'Year I of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for Nutrition 2025-2029: Status, Challenges and Capitalization of Good Nutrition Practices in the Nando Region,' the participants drew up a rigorous assessment of the past year.
The discussions were particularly rich, addressing several essential points for the effectiveness of nutritional interventions. The discussions began with an assessment of the implementation of the 2024 recommendations, followed by an analysis of the strategic plan's performance indicators. An updated stakeholder map was presented, identifying the roles and responsibilities of each.
Emphasis was placed on challenges hampering programs, such as the misuse of essential nutritional inputs such as Plumpy'nut, intended for the treatment of severely malnourished children. This serious problem led to the adoption of strict measures. Participants also shared and documented best practices observed in the region, as part of a knowledge capitalization process. For the coming year, a corrective and forward-looking action plan was developed in a participatory manner.
Among the key recommendations, the Assembly recommended strengthening controls to combat the illicit marketing of Plumpy'nut on public markets. Another important measure is the expansion of the composition of the CRN technical committee to ensure better sectoral representation. Finally, it was decided to launch awareness campaigns through community media, to inform the population about the ban on selling therapeutic nutritional products outside of approved channels.
This first general meeting of the Nando Regional Nutrition Council laid the foundations for stronger and better coordinated collaboration, essential to achieving the objectives of reducing malnutrition in the region.