AFRICAN NUTRITION MATTERS . December 2014 . Volume 2 No. 3 .
Focus on the Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference VI Accra, Ghana 2014
AF RIC AN NU T RIT IO N SOC IET Y T H E N E W S L E T T E R
AFRICAN NUTRITION MATTERS
African Nutrition Matters . Volume 2 No. 3 Focus on the ANEC VI African Nutrition Matters is a publication by the African Nutrition Society
In this issue
3 5 8 10 12 14 15 16 18 19
P. O. Box K18, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana. Phone: +233-244186867; +233-244872410 Fax: +233-2151394
Editorial
Editors Nonsikelelo Mathe, PhD
Post-conference interview with Paul Amuna, chair of ANEC VI
Dia Sanou, PhD
Linguistic editors
The greatest gift is knowledge
Muniirah Mbabazi, MSc Folake Samuel, PhD
Cancer and Africa
Layout by Jafri Ali
The FAO ENACT project All correspondance should be addressed to the editors by
African Nutrition Graduate Students Network forum
emailing the following address:
THE LEADER
Subscribe to this newsletter on:
newsletter@answeb.org
http://goo.gl/gpchYt Nutrition advocacy in East Africa
Young scientist column
Events Cover photo credit: Jafri Ali
African Nutrition Matters is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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EDITORIAL
volunteers
Dear reader,
Ghana and the continent.
at
the
ANEC
conference
for
their
tremendous commitment to the success of this conference. They are truly the shining black stars of
Happy new year! Welcome to the 4rd issue of African Nutrition Matters (ANM). 2014 has been particularly rich and vibrant for Africa
nutritionists
and
the
global
nutrition
community. In this special issue we publish the highlights of 2014. The African Nutrition Society’s (ANS) flagship event, the 6th African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference (ANEC VI) was held from 21-25th July 2014, in Accra, Ghana. The conference was attended by scientists, nutritionists, industry, academia, government and students who gathered at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to participate in discussions around the theme “Food and Nutrition Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities”. The ANM symposium held at ANEC VI provided an opportunity to officially launch the newsletter
to
African
readers
attending
the
conference. It also allowed most of the editorial team members to meet for the first time and interact with readers and ANS members and to revisit the team working approach. The symposium was well attended by members of the ANS board, students and many interested in this first publication of the ANS. A major highlight of this ANEC meeting was the launch of the eNutrition Academy, the culmination of many months work and the collective effort of several nutrition societies.
Professor
Emerita
Catherine
Geissler
discusses the significance of the academy. This and other highlights of 2014 are documented in this issue of ANM.
In July 2014, the African Nutrition Leadership Program (ANLP) launched its official newsletter - The Leader. The Leader intends to “serve as a continuing communication
on behalf of the ANS council the dedicated student
between
ANLP
Alumni,
sponsors and the ANLP leadership team. Furthermore it would create a doorway for providing ongoing education on matters closely related to nutrition leadership.” ANLP is a leadership platform that has impacted the lives of many nutritionists on the continent, including most of the ANM editorial members. We welcome this newsletter and are thankful to its editor for contributing to this year-end issue of ANM. The 2nd high level intergovernmental meeting and the second international conference on nutrition (ICN 2), jointly
organized
by
the
Food
and
Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), brought together in Roma Italy, November 1921st 2014, more than 2200 participants from 170 countries. ICN2 took place and resulted in two outcome
The ANM editorial team would like to especially thank
channel
documents–the Rome
Declaration
on
Nutrition and the Framework for Action—that set a new global momentum to eradicate all forms of malnutrition
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were
endorsed
by
participating
governments at the conference (a future issue of ANM will further report on these documents). Prior to the ICN2, the first ever Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) global gathering was held at the FAO to explore ways to enhancing the SUN “Movement’s ability to
ANM PHOTO CONTEST A picture is worth a thousand words
support the achievement of results by SUN countries by i) reflecting on progress for scaling up nutrition in
Send us a photo taken by you with a short
countries, ii) considering progress and achievements in
description/story (100 words) to:
strengthening
newsletter@answeb.org.
country
capacity
to
deliver,
and
accelerate support in areas of identified need and iii) contributing to the outcomes of ICN2 through shared country experiences and approaches to scaling up
The best photos will be featured in our next issues.
nutrition. A common feature of these events is a global shift of the nutrition discourse towards the important role of foods systems and from health lead nutrition policy to a more collaborative multi-stakeholder and multisectoral
approach
to
nutrition
with
a
strong
coordination mechanism for more sustainable results.
ANM CONTRIBUTIONS
ANM editorial team is supportive of this global shift in
If you have a subject that you would like to
approach and vision for nutrition. Another novel
see featured in the next issues of African
important concept that emerges from both ANEC VI
Nutrition Matters, you are welcome to send
and SUN global gathering is the “systemic or strategic capacity”. It suggests the important role of system approach to capacity building as technically skilled human resource alone is no longer enough to overcome the system level bottlenecks and barriers to eradicating nutrition in a more sustainable ways. We support and welcome these developments in the field of nutrition. Wish of the year 2015. Nonsikelelo Mathe and Dia Sanou
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us your suggestions: newsletter@answeb.org
POST-CONFERENCE INTERVIEW Well, the theme chosen was: “Food and Nutrition
WITH PAUL AMUNA, CHAIR OF THE
Security in Africa – challenges and opportunities”. First
ANEC VI
of all the scientific committee was pleased to see a range of abstracts submitted which spoke to the theme in various ways. The conference programme NONSIKELELO MATHE University of Alberta Canada
was very balanced with a good blend of nutrition science and developmental biology, clinical and public health aspects of nutrition research and practice as well as programmatic activities which provide the
Are you happy with how the conference turned out?
speakers was also excellent as ANEC was able to attract the best names in the field of nutrition from
Yes, indeed as Chairman of the International Scientific Committee, I am very satisfied with the outcome. It was good to see so many students and young scientists interacting with global experts in nutrition and learning from them. There were brilliant scientific presentations
evidence base for what works. The line up of keynote
and
posters
from
a
range
Africa and more globally who spoke to the theme and offered not only good food for thought, but motivated and challenged us all in terms of how we could contribute to meeting the nutrition and food security challenges in Africa.
of
backgrounds and topics including from undergraduate students. Particularly gratifying was the contribution of the young scientists to the conference activities. Bear in mind that globally we are currently at a cross-roads in terms of how we deliver the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) necessary to scale up nutrition and improve the health of the most vulnerable in our societies, especially post-2015. My hope lies in the next generation of nutrition scientists and I feel strongly about the need for them to be trained properly so that they can contribute meaningfully to health care delivery and also develop their leadership skills to support Africa’s drive for better nutrition and health. There is nothing better in this world than home-grown practitioners and experts. That is what every nation in Africa needs and I saw that future here at the ANEC IV conference in Accra.
“GM Food Debate” which brought scientists, civil society advocates and the general public together was both animated and engaging. It demonstrated the strength of feeling that exists on the issue of genetically modified foods and also sadly exposed the level of misunderstanding, mistrust and a lack of knowledge and information on the subject among the
What is your overall view on how the theme of the meeting was reflected and responded to by participants of the conference?
The pre-conference public engagement event on the
general public. The lively debate allowed some of the burning questions to be confronted head-on; and it was clear that we have a lot of work to do to educate the public on food in general and especially the
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application
of
technologies
including
genetic
training,
workforce
capacity
building
and
the
engineering in general and genetic modification in its
regulation of the nutrition profession. The range of
broadest sense to addressing some of our food and
topics covered included maternal and child nutrition
nutrition security needs in Africa.
and health, malnutrition and its management and the growing burden of chronic nutrition-related non-
Dr David Nabbaro’s, (the UN Secretary-General’s
communicable diseases. In this regard, it was pleasing
Special Representative on Global Scaling Up Nutrition)
to see the conference cover topics like nutrition and
eloquent presentation via video-link on nutrition
cancer which until now has been given very little
capacity building, the SUN Movement and the
attention in Africa and I think Professor Martin
challenge to our delegates to be more engaged in, and
Wiseman from the World Cancer Research Fund gave a
contribute to scaling up nutrition to mitigate the
brilliant talk on the subject which was insightful,
scourge of malnutrition in high burden countries set
informative and most thought-provoking.
the scene and the tone for the conference week. To cite a few examples, It was pleasing to see experts
Other major topics included food safety and food
such as Professor Anna Lartey, Head of the Nutrition
policy, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and the various
Division at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization
workshops on topics ranging from new tools for
(FAO, Rome) speak specifically to the theme and blend
dietary
in the importance of nutrition-sensitive agriculture as
screening, and the FAO’s workshops on professional
a way to address our nutrition needs. Others such as
training in nutrition education (ENACT) and Food
Professor
Composition
Alan
Jackson
spoke
eloquently
about
nutrition capacity building and the importance of good
intake
assessment
Databases
in
cancer
(INFOODS).
and
The
NCD
packed
audiences at the various symposia, seminars, poster
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sessions and other activities demonstrate the level of
in Africa, awarded to Professor Anna Lartey and the
participants’ involvement in the conference activities
Nevin Scrimshaw Award for a lifetime achievement in
and how much they benefited from the week in Accra,
international nutrition whose recipient was Professor
including over-subscription of the post-conference
Alan Jackson. These were two most deserving scientists
training workshops. It was also great to see a lot of
and
networking among students, researchers and experts
generations of nutritionists and we hope they will
which bodes well for the future. The British Nutrition
continue to do so for many more years to come.
practitioners
who
continue
to
inspire
all
Society’s ANEC Education and Training workshop which this year focused on training in scientific writing for
Can you draw links between the conference theme
publication was another major highlight which like all
and the final declaration?
the others, was over-subscribed. Yes indeed. The conference theme focused not only on Other highlights to mention were the workshop on
the challenges, but also opportunities for addressing
nutrition capacity building and the launch of the
Africa’s food security and nutrition challenges. In the
eNutrition Academy (eNA), an online platform to
conference Declaration, there was a recognition of the
support nutrition training across African institutions.
tasks ahead, where we are at the moment and
The former engaged both the students and young
responsibilities for all, including first global bodies and
scientists and experts and professionals, to gauge their
national governments; the need for partnerships
perspectives. It was good to see that the general
between academic institutions and professional bodies
consensus was towards a unified nutrition curriculum
and not least, we, the food and nutrition scientists,
for training and a call for professional registration and
researchers, advocates and civil society to provide
accreditation of training courses in nutrition. The
leadership and a unified front in ensuring good quality
launch of the eNA was the culmination of months of
training and competencies for professional practice to
work between the African Nutrition Society (ANS) and
support
the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS)
meaningfully to tackling malnutrition in all its forms.
the
health
workforce
and
contribute
on the one hand, and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the Nutrition Society (NS) of Great
Any final thoughts and take home messages?
Britain and Ireland on the other, and in collaboration with the International Union of Nutritional Sciences
This conference has demonstrated the commitment of
(IUNS), the global body of nutritional scientists. This
the ANS to provide the right platform and promote
initiative further demonstrates the uniqueness of the
partnerships not only among Africans, but with the
ANS and ANEC in the sense that these meetings are
rest of the international community with a common
not just another ‘talk shop’ but a platform for actions
agenda and focus on confronting and addressing
aimed at providing avenues and solutions to the needs
Africa’s food and nutrition challenges. Our challenge is
of nutrition professionals and institutions in Africa to
to embrace and work tirelessly towards a unified, well
build a much stronger and more effective and
trained and competent African continental nutrition
competent workforce to support the health sector.
workforce to support health improvements and ultimately make malnutrition history.
My assessment of the conference and its outcomes will be incomplete without mention of two key awards – the ANS Award for distinguished services to nutrition
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THE GREATEST GIFT IS KNOWLEDGE
knowledge, to help train nutritionists in developing
The eNutrition Academy: a charity with a very different mission
nations, enabling them to advise their governments and populations on the best options for them. The eNutrition Academy has been created to help teach nutrition science to a new generation of nutritionists around
the
world
free
of charge;
especially in parts of the world where people are most at risk of malnutrition such as Africa, South Asia and Prof. Emer. CATHERINE GEISSLER
South America. The eNA is backed by five founding
Chair of the eNutrition Academy / President of the
partners: the African Nutrition Society (ANS), American
Nutrition Society, UK and Ireland
Society for Nutrition (ASN), Federation of African Nutrition Societies, International Union of Nutritional
Sometimes the greatest gift to help people improve
Sciences (IUNS) and the Nutrition Society of the United
their lives is knowledge. Many charities do excellent
Kingdom and Ireland.
work in developing nations, distributing donations by way of money, food, clothes and through local
The eNA was formally launched at the sixth African
infrastructure projects.
Nutrition Epidemiology Conference (ANEC VI) in Ghana
The eNutrition Academy (eNA) is also a charity.
in July 2014. There was a great deal of interest in the
However, the way in which it aims to help people is
new organisation with real support from delegates.
very different. The eNA’s mission is to give people
The global e-learning platform is being delivered by
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Cambridge University Press and contributions to
partnerships
course materials are expected from academics around
involved in the eNA at this early stage will have a real
the world. The eNutrition Academy will initially offer
opportunity to influence the sort of course content
its online courses in Africa where there is an urgent
that is made available and shape how the online
need
platform is used and evaluated.
for
capacity
building.
Understanding
and
and
gauge
interest.
Those
getting
applying nutrition science can have a significant, positive impact on public health and the huge global
The eNA is focusing on the African continent in the
problems we face around malnutrition and obesity.
first instance. Courses will be tailored for the African
Qualified nutritionists and dietitians have a major role
market,
to play in policy making, healthcare, education,
infrastructure, so that nutrition science capacity-
agriculture and food manufacturing. The eNA will work
building is regionally led and local scientific knowledge
in partnership with local universities and colleges to
helps us meet African requirements.
complement and enhance their offering to students. It
To find out more about the eNA, and get details of how
will also be of great benefit to those already in work
to contact us please visit the website:
seeking continuous professional development.
www.enutritionacademy.org
The first eNA course – Assessment of Dietary Intake for Individuals – is currently being tested. More courses will follow in due course. The eNA would like to hear from universities teaching nutrition and dietetics
courses
across
Africa
to
forge
early
-9-
designed
to
suit
local
needs
and
CANCER AND AFRICA
vast majority of this increase is going to happen in lower income countries. Lower income countries are adopting Western dietary patterns There are two main reasons for this – firstly, a general increase in the numbers of older people across the globe. Of course this increase in life expectancy is generally to be welcomed, and is not something we’d
MARTIN WISEMAN
want to reverse, but the fact is that cancers mainly
World Cancer Research Fund International
occur in older people. Secondly, the lower income countries of the world – including many in Africa – are
Right now cancer is less of a problem in Africa than in
undergoing a real change in the way people live their
higher income parts of the world, like Europe, North
lives. They are becoming more urban and less rural;
America and Oceania, where rates of cancer are at
less physically active in everyday life; they are adopting
least double that in Africa. Although the occurrence of
Western – fast becoming international – dietary
different cancers varies across the continent, Africa is
patterns, and are subject to global marketing and
a low risk area compared to other parts of the globe
other social and political pressures.
for cancers of the lung, bowel, breast and prostate. So
The result of this so-called nutrition transition is that
why, you might ask, have I been invited to talk about
over the next few decades, people in Africa are likely
cancer
to develop rates and cancer patterns similar to those
at
the
African
Nutrition
Epidemiology
Congress?
we see in the higher income countries. But this is
I mean, it’s not just that the rates of these globally
largely avoidable. At World Cancer Research Fund
common cancers are rather low in Africa, but that
International, we estimate that in high income
those cancers that do occur more commonly in Africa
countries about a third of the commonest cancers, and
are related to infections – those of the cervix (human
about a quarter of all cancers, could be avoided by
papilloma
pylori),
being more physically active, eating a healthy diet and
sarcoma
maintaining a healthy weight. Together with smoking,
(HIV/AIDS). By contrast, the most common cancers in
according to the World Health Organization, that
high-income countries – breast, colon, prostate, lung –
means about half of all cancers are avoidable.
oesophagus
virus (HPV
–
HPV), again)
stomach and
(H.
Kaposi’s
are not known to have infective origins, and are more closely linked to lifestyle behaviours such as smoking or being overweight and obese. Cancer rates are set to increase globally by 50% by 2030 Well, the answer is that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of new cancers occurring globally every year will go up from the current figure of about 14 million, to 22 million by 2030 – an increase of 50%. And they estimate that the
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And while the UK and other developed countries have allowed this to happen, it could be prevented in countries going through the social changes that we have already experienced. The typical high-income pattern of sedentary behaviour and poor diet is an unintended consequence of economic development – but not a necessary one. These lifestyle behaviours have been considered to be off limits for politicians, resulting in an environment that has changed remarkably over the last few decades; where the default position for most people is not to eat healthily and be active, but just the opposite. Across the world, countries are only just beginning to wake up to the enormous cost of treating diseases related to poor nutrition, such as cancer and heart disease; not to mention the added cost of lost productivity due to ill health and early death. Put simply, such diseases cost a fortune – a fortune that low income countries just don’t have. So prevention has to be the sensible answer, and that means garnering the political will to create healthy food environments for populations across the world. Although for the UK, the boat has sailed, for countries in Africa there is a chance – a limited window, but a chance – to not let that happen. Examples of effective food policies from around the world Our
policy
team
works
to
encourage
national
governments to take comprehensive policy action to promote healthier diets. African countries can learn from effective policies that have been implemented elsewhere and tailor them to their specific context. So based on the evidence, and with political will, countries in Africa can avoid the public health mistakes we made in higher income countries and build societies where people live longer, but remain healthy into old age. I urge Africa not to make the same mistakes as us.
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The FAO ENACT project
ENACT at ANEC
Education for effective nutrition in
and its proposed extension to francophone Africa,
action - professional training in
ENAF (The ENACT project in Francophone Africa)1.
Two events were held at ANEC 2014 to publicize ENACT
nutrition education
1/ A pre-conference workshop to introduce ENACT, targeting university and NGO staff;
JANE SHERMAN, RAMANI WIJESINHA-BETTONI, YVETTE FAUTSCH, ANTHONY JENNINGS, MELISSA VARGAS, ELLEN MUEHLHOFF*
2/A symposium conducted with piloting partners to share piloting country experiences.
Food and Agriculture Organization These contributions were very timely since there was a *Correspondence to: Ellen Muehlhoff, Senior Officer Nutrition
strong conference focus on nutrition capacity building
Education and Consumer Awareness Group, Nutrition Division, Food
and the expansion of e-learning. Many institutes
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
expressed interest in incorporating ENACT into their
Ellen.Muehlhoff@fao.org
curricula. Background to ENACT Promoting healthy and sustainable diets for everyone
Pre-conference
is a major aim of the Food and Agriculture
workshop was facilitated by two experienced ENACT
Organization of the United Nations (FAO). People need
tutors—Dr Gloria Otoo from the University of Ghana
access to adequate food and must be empowered to
and Prof. Judith Kimiywe from Kenyatta University,
make healthy food choices. Nutrition education is key
Kenya. The 24 participants attending the session
to ensuring the knowledge and skills to practise
reported
healthy eating.
expressed in having a longer orientation/training session,
orientation
enjoying developing
the
workshop:
approach.
diploma
and
Interest
The
was
postgraduate
In 2010-2011 FAO conducted an assessment of
versions of ENACT, and extending it to other health
professional training in nutrition education in seven
professionals (medical students, nurses).
countries in Africa, which highlighted the need for capacity development in this field. In January 2012 FAO started the ENACT project to develop, pre-test and disseminate a basic undergraduate course in nutrition education, to be delivered both face-to-face and online.
During
universities Nigeria,
2012-14,
(Botswana,
Tanzania
and
seven Ghana, Uganda)
African
partner
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
contributed
to
developing the course by piloting it and discussing it at workshops in Ghana, Uganda and Ethiopia. You can ENACT pre-conference workshop: participants hard at work
find out more at: http://www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/nutritioneduca tion/69725/en/
Symposium: The session, which was attended by approximately 70 people, was opened by Dr Anna
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Lartey, Director of FAO Nutrition Division. Interest was high and the discussion was lively. Piloting partners from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, ENACT team members and Dr Paul Amuna delivered brief presentations, and piloting students from the University of Ghana also shared their experiences.
Full house at the ENACT symposium
What’s next? The face-to-face version of the ENACT module is being finalized, and work on the online version is ongoing. Piloting partners are now being selected for the project in Francophone Africa (ENAF). Once finalized, the ENACT material will be available free to interested institutions. In conclusion… It seems that the time is right for ENACT in Africa! As a Kenyan participant said: "What I'm hearing now is what I've been waiting for....counselling skills, skills to help convince people are lacking. KNDI (the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute) will push for this course, and even re-train those already on the field!" And a voice from Niger: "I myself am a teacher of nutrition education; I confess that I need this course! What I teach is a theoretical course. I tell my students not to teach nutrition, but I can't tell them how they should do it.” 1 The ENACT (GCP/INT/133/GER) and ENAF (GCP/INT/163/GER) projects are funded by the Government of Germany.
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African Nutrition Graduate
America to an institution in Africa – the pros and cons were discussed. The Coordinator was tasked to further
Students Network forum
look into the relocation of the network’s headquarters – consult with the founding fathers of the network for their inputs and advice the network accordingly. On JOSEPH ASHONG
the way forward, a number of suggestions were made;
Cornell University, US
the need to re-launch and re-brand the network going
BRENDA ZAHARI
into 2015 and the need for a review of the constitution
AGSNet
of the network to be abreast with time. The Coordinator and Brenda Zarhari were tasked to
AGSNet organized a short open forum as part of the
coordinate the re-launching. They are to form
recently held ANEC VI in Accra. In attendance were 32
committees to implement the re-launching of the
new, current and alumni members of the network. Top
network. Nonsi shared benefits of being a member of
on the agenda was the way forward for the network.
the network and activities carried out by the North
New members were warmly welcomed to the network
American Chapter. The forum was adjourned however,
and were given a brief history, structure and
discussions continue electronically via the network’s
function/purpose of the network by the Coordinator
main channel of communication – emailing! For more
ably supported by the alumni members present at the
information on membership and to be part of the
forum. The floor was then opened for questions and
discussions, send your name and email address to
comments. Topics discussed were; the role of
Joseph
members who have completed school, network
(abubrenda@yahoo.com).
holding symposia, status of the network’s website, leadership, and the relationship between the network and African Nutrition Society (ANS). Also discussed was the possibility of moving the headquarters of the network from Cornell University in the United States of
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(joashong@gmail.com)
or
to
Brenda
THE LEADER
ongoing education on nutrition leadership related topics.
Newsletter of the African Nutrition Leadership programme
It was strongly felt that THE LEADER should be owned by the ANLP-alumni. THE LEADER has permanent contributors as well as invited writers with every issue. The current team includes Christine Taljaard (Editor), Lisa Ware (Language Editor), Jane Badham, Leon Coetzee and Johann Jerling (Article writers). Jane, Leon and Johann are more than just familiar faces or CHRISTINE TALJAARD
experts in their respective fields to ANLP-alumni. They
Editor of “THE LEADER”,
have mentored, guided, advised, and encouraged
African Nutrition Leadership Programme
these young leaders and bring a warmhearted-
North-West University, South Africa
welcome-look to each issue.
The African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP)
Immediately after the 10 day training programme,
has been developing nutrition leaders in Africa for
ANLP trainees are encouraged to return to their roles
more than ten years and this year, published the first
and to bring about the positive changes they have
issue of their official newsletter ‘THE LEADER’ (July,
embraced during the course. THE LEADER serves as a
2014). There are now more than 300 ANLP-alumni,
lifeline that continues to feed this energy and to keep
firmly establishing a network that, so far, reaches into
reminding alumni that in order to be an effective agent
33 African countries and several countries outside of
for change, the change must start and continue from
Africa. In December 2012, the core ANLP leadership
within. By promoting this personal growth and
team met to strategically plan ways to scale up the
providing readers with insight into nutrition current
programme and to bring renewed energy to this
affairs, THE LEADER supports alumni to lead from
growing network. It was decided that a newsletter
where they stand. Over the years, ANLP-alumni from
would help to keep people in touch, give a voice for
different years have gathered together at congresses
sharing experience and nutrition issues in Africa and
to share laughter, experiences and memories of their
promote the programme to achieve greater scale and
time at, what some may think of as, the ANLP ‘boot
thus THE LEADER was born.
camp’. Because of this shared common experience, you
will
find
people
supporting
each
other,
Several people committed themselves to contribute to
encouraging those who are tired, applauding those
this newfound initiative. There is little no worth in
who have succeeded. People reminding each other of
publishing just another twenty page newsletter that
shared virtues. May this be precisely what THE LEADER
would end-up in archives and trashcans before the
does, to unite a diverse group of people from various
first pages have been read. The intent of THE LEADER
working sectors across an extended network who will
was that it would serve as a communication channel
continue, through their leadership, to advance and
between the ANLP leadership team, ANLP-Alumni and
promote nutrition policy and practice across our
sponsors. Furthermore it would encourage and equip
continent.
those working in the field of nutrition by providing
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NUTRITION ADVOCACY IN EAST
through nutrition advocacy and communication on the continent. The advent of the SUN movement has seen
AFRICA
a rise in several organised nutrition advocacy civil society organisations/groups in Eastern Africa. In MUNIIRAH MBABAZI
Uganda, UCCO-SUN, PANITA in Tanzania, Rwanda SUN
Nottingham University, UK
Civil Alliance in Rwanda and SUN Civil Society Alliance
FUNGO ROBERT
of Kenya (SUN CSA) in Kenya. These groups base their
African Nutrition Society
work on the SUN principles that recognise the multi sectoral nature of the causes of malnutrition and
Nutrition as a foundation for human health and
therefore require several approaches from seemingly
development has gained global recognition and as
interlinked but detached sectors to drum up action for
such the nutrition agenda is on a higher global
nutrition improvements in their respective countries.
pedestal than never before. Governments across the
However, vividly lacking is the presence of strong
world and especially in the developing world have
individuals and institutions to generate and sustain
general consensus on the importance of nutrition in
nutrition at the highest national level agenda with
development. These kinds of developments have been
substantial engagement and involvement of the
possible due to nutrition advocacy. As seen in
Scientific and professional community. Though the
Copenhagen
2012
SUN recommends that the nutrition agenda be housed
philanthropists, economists and nutrition scientists
at the highest office in the land, like in the office of the
showed that an investment in nutrition is economically
President’s or Prime minister’s office, financing and
sound and was thus labelled the ‘best’ investment to
technical support still remain major issues especially
save lives of mothers and children as well as improve
in countries where there is no budget line for nutrition
children’s education outcomes. Once achieved, these
actions. It is feared that the gains from nutrition
are a cornerstone of improved economic productivity
advocacy could be lost if the status quo remains as is.
Consensus
outcomes
of
that many developing countries seek to achieve. However, working under constrained budgets nutrition
On the other hand, governments continue to work
still does not receive its due attention in many
with civil society organisations and donor partners to
government
African
provide tools for nutrition advocacy. Tools like the
countries. This has been in part due to lack of timely
PROFILES developed by the USAID have been used to
and clear information and capacity to push for better
generate estimates on the consequences of nutritional
investment in Nutrition. Where the information is
deficiencies in populations; the cost-effectiveness of
present, expertise is limited to provide sound analysis
proposed
and technical arguments to policy makers and
communicates results to various audiences. This tool
planners; hence the ineffectiveness of the facts as they
has
are presented in a way that does not appeal to
advocacy information in several countries and East
decision-makers or offers them clear alternatives with
Africa
both political and technical benefits.
understanding of the gains that could be achieved by
Worth noting is the remarked growth in capacity
reducing and preventing malnutrition and how much it
development for nutrition in many African countries
costs to provide the needed services. Estimates from
and as such expertise is slowly growing and there is a
this tool have been and continue to be the cornerstone
beacon of hope for better and more nutrition actions
of the process of nutrition advocacy.
programs
in
several
east
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been
nutrition instrumental
alike.
Further,
programmes in this
and
generating tool
also
nutrition
provides
an
The Eastern and southern African region still has high fractions of malnourished children with over 25 million or 40% of the under-fives stunted and a further 18% and 7% underweight and wasted respectively. Though reversible,
wasting
and
underweight
children
contribute a larger fraction to the numbers of malnourished
children
in
the
region.
However,
stunting is not reversible and affects more children than the two conditions combined. For African children to realise their full potential it is important for the current advocacy efforts to be sustained and boosted in the region. Further reading 1. Burkhalter R.B et al. 1999. Nutrition advocacy and national development: the PROFILES programme and its application. Bulletin of the World Health Organization77 (5) 2. Unicef, ND. Eastern and Southern Africa. Young Child survival and development. http://www.unicef.org/esaro/5479_nutrition.html
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YOUNG SCIENTIST COLUMN
scientists/researchers and we must get involved in finding practicable and sustainable solutions to this particular challenge. The challenges we face in Africa
ISHAWU IDDRISU
as far as food and nutrition security is concerned are
MPhil. Human Nutrition and Dietetics
very reversible thus the need to adopt a more
Kwame Nkrumah Univ of Science and Technology
proactive, committed and participatory approaches in
Ghana
the fight against food security. Africa has all that it takes to be food and nutrition secured and it's our
The 6th African Nutritional Epidemiology Conference
duty to make this a reality.
(ANEC VI) held in Accra between 21st to 25th July was a great experience especially for me as a student delegate.
The
conference
offered
me
a
great
opportunity to share my research work and potentials with experts and professionals in nutrition across Africa and the world at large. ANEC VI specially gave the young and upcoming researchers like myself a platform to build on our research experiences and capabilities. I would like to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to the organizers, the research committee and the International Nutrition Foundation for the award and for the exposure given to the next generation of nutrition scientists. The theme for this year's conference couldn't have been better selected looking at the current food and nutrition security situation in Africa and other parts of the world. I was fascinated with the kind of scientific and practical solutions that the speakers at the conference offered to the food and nutrition security challenges that the continent is facing. One of the key message was the double burden of malnutrition and to tackle this we need multi-sectoral collaborations. This means that every sector has an active role to play to be able to achieve a sustainable food and nutrition secured continent. As said by my mentor; if we are able to implement and practice one third (â…“) of what we discussed at this conference, then Africa's poor food and nutrition security will be a thing of the past. The future of Africa and for that matter the world's food and nutrition security is in the hands of young
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Receiving the award for best oral communication at ANEC VI Accra, Ghana. 2014
Events 26 – 29 January, 2015 9th Asia Pacific Conference On Clinical Nutrition (APCCN 2015) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
10 – 20 March, 2015 13th African Nutrition Leadership Programme South Africa.
14 – 18 May, 2015 12th Asian Congress of Nutrition (ACN2015) Yokohama, Japan.
5 – 8 October, 2015 15th International Nutrition & Diagnostics Conference Prague, Czech Republic.
20 – 23 October, 2015 12th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2015 Berlin, Germany.
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African Nutrition Matters Volume 2 No. 3 . December 2014
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