Over 50 parliamentarians and journalists from West and Central Africa meeting at the National Assembly in Yaounde for a two-day workshop on nutrition, have drafted a plan of action that also defines their commitment in raising awareness, advocacy and influencial laws for more investments in nutrition.

Organised by the Network of Cameroonian Parliamentarians for the Fight Against Malnutrition (“Racine de Vie”) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the workshop from May 12 to 13, 2015, was attended by participants from DR Congo, Congo, Gabon, Mali, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

It aimed at training Members of Parliament, MPs and journalists to identify their roles and responsibilities in the fight against malnutrition and create a network that will influence efforts against the condition.

Malnutrition, it was noted as the cause of death of over one million children aged less than five years in West and Central Africa every year.

At the opening of the workshop on May 12, 2015, the First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Hilarion Etong, expressed concern that while progress has been made in the world against malnutrition, West and Central Africa were still lagging behind.

After lauding efforts made by governments and UNICEF to reverse the situation, Hon. Etong recommended that at the national level, the issue of malnutrition should occupy its rightful place in public policies and benefit from adequate budget allocations.

Speaking earlier, UNICEF’s Resident Representative, Félicité Tchibindat, reiterated the need to invest in nutrition, with parliamentarians and journalists having a key role to play.

To the President of “Racine de Vie”, Hon. Vincent de Paul Emah Etoundi, the workshop marks the start of synergy against malnutrition which he blamed on the increasing cycle of poverty.