On Friday, May 30, 2025, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joined the Paediatric Association of Sierra Leone (PASL) in commemorating the Association’s first anniversary at the New Brookfields Hotel in western Freetown. The event highlighted PASL’s unwavering commitment to promoting child health in Sierra Leone.
Themed “Breaking the Cycle: Ending Childhood Malnutrition in Sierra Leone,” the milestone brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, government ministries, and development partners in a united effort to address one of the nation’s most urgent public health challenges.
In her remarks, UNICEF Representative Liv Elin Indreiten commended the tireless efforts of pediatricians, nurses, and frontline health workers who continue to operate under challenging conditions to safeguard children’s health. “Malnutrition remains one of the greatest threats to children’s well-being in Sierra Leone,” Indreiten stated. “Healthcare workers are the first line of defense, often operating in the most demanding conditions with exceptional dedication and compassion.”
She applauded PASL’s pivotal role in building a cohesive pediatric workforce that is already influencing policy, raising public awareness, and strengthening child health and nutrition systems.
UNICEF presented sobering statistics to underscore the urgency of the issue: one in three children in Sierra Leone is stunted, approximately 260,000 children under five suffer from acute malnutrition annually, 60,000 of these cases are classified as severe, only 3.6% of children under five receive a minimum acceptable diet; nearly half of children under five live in severe food poverty and Sierra Leone ranks among the five countries most affected by childhood malnutrition globally. “Malnutrition is not merely a food issue,” Indreiten emphasized. “It is deeply rooted in poverty, inequality, lack of education, and inadequate access to services. It robs children of their future and undermines national development.”
She also commended the leadership of the Nutrition Secretariat and the Food Systems Unit under the Office of the Vice President for spearheading the country’s 11 Nutrition and Health Commitments, launched earlier this year in Paris, aimed at promoting sustainable, multisectoral responses.
“This anniversary is not just a celebration,” she said. “It’s a call to action. It reminds us that meaningful change is possible when we work together… Let us recommit, innovate, and deepen our collaboration. Together, we can build a future where no child suffers needlessly from hunger.”
Indreiten reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working closely with PASL and other stakeholders to advance child health across Sierra Leone. She also underscored the importance of preventive healthcare, especially in light of emerging threats such as mpox, encouraging simple practices like regular handwashing, physical distancing, and timely medical care.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh emphasized the government’s strategic prioritization of nutrition as a central pillar of Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
“Nutrition is not solely a clinical matter—it has economic, cultural, and societal dimensions,” he said. “That’s why it features prominently in the Big Five Game Changers and the Human Capital Development agenda of His Excellency the President.”
Dr. Jalloh highlighted several initiatives: nationwide distribution of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, introduction of a domestic budget line for therapeutic food; participation in the UNICEF-supported Nutrition Window to boost local food production, expansion of the school feeding program, now reaching over 650,000 children and approval of the “One Egg Per Child” policy, ensuring that every child in the school feeding program receives at least one egg per week “We have reduced our food importation expenditure from 23% to 21% between 2018 and 2024,” he noted. “But food inflation remains a challenge. That’s why we’re investing heavily in domestic food production—to increase access and affordability, which is crucial for improving nutrition.”
PASL President Dr. Nellie V. T. Bell reflected on the organization’s achievements over the past year and stressed the need for sustained pediatric advocacy. “With 45% of our population under age 15, our children must not be ignored,” she declared. “Though they may lack the voice to demand their rights, we—health professionals—must be their voice.”
Despite being one of the youngest pediatric associations globally, PASL has made significant strides, guided by its five foundational pillars: clinical care, education, research, policy, and advocacy.
Key accomplishments include: district-level pediatric outreach campaigns, training on Essential Newborn Care (ENC 1 & 2) with support from UNICEF and the International Pediatric Association, “Walk for Nutrition” awareness events nationwide, community screening exercises, such as one in Moawa which revealed a 20% malnutrition rate among children.
Dr. Bell raised concerns about hidden forms of malnutrition, particularly micronutrient deficiencies, which often go unnoticed in standard health assessments. “Children with sparse, discolored hair may not be classified as severely malnourished, but they are visibly nutrient-deficient,” she pointed out.
Nutrition Director Aminata Shamit Koroma noted progress, including a reduction in the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition from 5.4% in 2019 to 3.7% in 2024. However, she cautioned that rates remain above international targets.
While breastfeeding rates are relatively high, challenges persist in exclusive breastfeeding and dietary diversity—key components in combating malnutrition. “Malnutrition is not just a health issue—it is a national development crisis,” Dr. Bell reiterated. “We must respond with loyalty, compassion, and a unified national effort to ensure no child is deprived of life, light, and learning.”
The anniversary served as a powerful platform to galvanize action and reaffirm a shared commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s children. As PASL enters its second year, it remains resolute in its mission. “Every child deserves a healthy start in life,” Dr. Bell concluded. “Together, we can pulse a brighter future for Sierra Leone’s children.”