Conakry, Guinea - November 4, 2024 - The West African Health Organization (WAHO), in partnership with CRS and GIZ, is organizing a regional training workshop focused on leadership, partnership, and advocacy in the area of food fortification. This workshop, held from November 4 to 7, brings together various directors, coordinators, and officials from national food fortification alliances in ECOWAS member countries.
The opening ceremony of this workshop was honored by the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and SMEs, the Prime Minister’s Advisor, the representative of the WAHO Director General, and the Country Director of CRS in Guinea. The ceremony was presided over by the Secretary General, representing the Minister Dr. Diaka SIDIBÉ, underscoring the commitment of the Guinean government, under the leadership of His Excellency General Mamadi DOUMBOUYA, to make food fortification a national priority.
This workshop aims to equip national alliance leaders with the skills needed to effectively coordinate initiatives in the field of food fortification, particularly by working closely with members
from various ministries and organizations. Participants will also receive training to develop and manage solid partnerships with other institutions and stakeholders, as well as to strengthen their advocacy capabilities in favor of food fortification. The goal is to raise awareness among decision-makers and mobilize crucial resources to promote this initiative.
The training sessions are led by renowned experts, including Dr. Namoudou Keita, coordinator of the WAHO in Lead Capacity Activity project, Dr. Dia Sanou, and Dr. Augustin Zeba.
This large-scale food fortification project (LSFF), led by WAHO, aims to address the region's nutritional needs by promoting the mandatory enrichment of certain foods with essential micronutrients such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A.