FADA N’GOURMA — On August 7, 2024, the governor of the Eastern region, Ram Joseph Kafando, presided over the first session of the Regional Nutrition Consultation Council (CRN) for the year in Fada N’Gourma, focusing on combating the increasing rates of acute malnutrition across various communes.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the regional director in charge of Eastern Health, the recent rapid SMART surveys revealed alarming rates of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) in the area, with Fada N’Gourma reporting a prevalence of 13.1%, Diapaga 21.2%, Matiacoali 17.3%, and Gayéri 15.4%. These figures significantly exceed the World Health Organization’s threshold of 10%, highlighting the urgent need for intensified efforts to address malnutrition, particularly among children aged 0 to 5 and breastfeeding women.

The causes of the surge in malnutrition have largely been attributed to the severe insecurity in the region, which restricts access to health centers for prompt diagnosis and treatment. The workshop brought together health workers, NGOs, associations, and partners involved in nutrition to assess past achievements and discuss challenges impeding the fight against malnutrition.

Governor Kafando urged all stakeholders to collaborate effectively to tackle the nutritional challenges facing the population, emphasizing the importance of addressing malnutrition as a critical component of achieving sustainable development goals.