Published: Monday, 31 August 2015 16:21
The Sierra Leone Market Women Association (SLMWA) and Children Advocacy Forum- Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Health and Nutrition Civil Society Platform (HANSL-CSP) and FOCUS 1000 conducted two-day training in Freetown from 17th to 18th August 2015. Over 200 Chair Ladies and Chair Men from the Sierra Leone Market Women Association selected across the country were brought together to learn about advocacy and community mobilization for nutrition, immunization and maintaining zero Ebola in Sierra Leone, at the YWCA National Hall Brookfield, Freetown.
The Keynote address was given by CEO of FOCUS 1000 who is also the Chair for the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) and Immunization CSP. Other statements were given by MoHS (Directorate for Food and Nutrition), NERC, UNICEF, CRS, SUN Secretariat. Hellen Keller International (HKI-Co chair for CSP) facilitated group work, with a team from the Health Education Division (MoHS). Brief presentations on nutrition and immunization programmes and Ebola were presented by MoHS, SUN Secretariat, CRS and FOCUS 1000.
At the end of the workshop, participants developed district level activity plans, were they committed to conducting community mobilization activities in their districts and communities to promote:
- Exclusive breast feeding from zero -6 months;
- Importance of good nutrition;
- The need for all children to be fully immunized by 9 months;
- Continued vigilance in maintaining zero Ebola;
- Calling 117 for the sick, safe dignified burials
- Promoting regular hand washing with soap