2017-04-26 22:45:24

By Harvey de Hardt-Kaffils, Communication & Advocacy Specialist, WAHO

Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2017 ' The West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to renew its partnership and collaboration in the areas of health, food, nutrition and biodiversity. The five (5) year MOU replaces an old one which was signed in 2012.

The MOU among other things, aims at promoting health and nutrition education for improved lifestyles, good dietary behavior, including appropriate energy intake, adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, avoiding tobacco and harmful use of alcohol, as well as physical activity and regular medical check-up across the life course. The MOU will also help enhance operational research aimed at reducing the incidence and Non-Communicable Diseases related to morbidity.

The Director General of WAHO, Dr. Xavier Crespin, signed for WAHO whilst the Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr.Bukar Tijani signed for FAO. The MOU was signed on the sidelines of a five-day Forum on Public Private Partnership in health for the ECOWAS region, which is underway in Accra.

MrTijani said, through the MOU, the modalities of collaboration between WAHO and FAO will be developed for the implementation of joint activities related to health under 'One Health approach', food and nutrition security issues, particularly those regional in nature, in order to substantially improve the health and wellbeing of the population of the ECOWAS region. MrTijani said the two parties had the common objective to pool their respective expertise and resources, in the framework of the agreement and to undertake the implementation of joint actions in health, food and advocate improved food composition and preparation methods of local foods. Three key areas of FAO are hunger eradication, food insecurity and malnutrition as well as poverty, he stated.

On his part, Dr. Crespin said both parties have registered their resolve to accelerate the progress of the MOU to achieve food and nutrition security, using local food systems of the West African region through program implementation and research.

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