The forum on child health and nutrition in Africa was attended by His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho, the African Union Champion for Nutrition, along with senior government officials and representatives from international institutions.
Speaking at the event, Ato Adem Farah, Head of the Coordination Centre for Democracy Building in the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, said that Ethiopia has achieved significant results in successfully implementing the Lemat Thurufat and Green Legacy Decade initiatives.
According to Ato Adem, the programmes have benefited millions of mothers and children across the country by improving access to adequate food and strengthening their resilience.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a balanced and safe food supply, stressing that continued efforts will ensure the well-being of future generations.
Calling on all stakeholders to pay due attention, strengthen domestic finance, and take concerted action to address climate change, Adam Farah said that this would enable the development of the human capital, the foundation of Africa’s prosperity, to be shared.
Sharing the Ethiopian experience and how countries can implement better nutrition programs, State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Duguma explained the encouraging results achieved in improving child health, implementing the Sukuta Pledge, and implementing Early Childhood Development.
Speaking at the forum, former Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Founding Chairman of Yadam Foundation, Ato Demeke Mekonnen, stressed the need for political leadership, sustainable finance, and climate-responsive strategies to improve child nutrition and human resource development on the continent.
At the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the African Union and Nutrition International to help improve nutrition in Africa.