By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Lower Margibi — The Ministry of Health has begun a comprehensive overhaul of Liberia’s national nutrition recipe booklet for children aged 6–23 months, launching a three-day technical workshop aimed at strengthening complementary feeding practices amid growing concerns over child malnutrition.
The review, taking place in Lower Margibi County, is being led by the Ministry’s Nutrition Division in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, SADFONS, Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and other development partners.
In a statement the Ministry said the gathering brings together nutrition experts, policymakers, and county health officials to update the guidelines that inform how Liberian children are fed during a critical period of growth and development.
Welcoming participants, A. McFarland Kerkulah of the Margibi County Health Team encouraged full commitment to the process. “We are pleased to welcome all participants, policymakers, partners, and health practitioners to Lower Margibi County,” he said. “We wish everyone success as you revise the nutrition recipe booklet that will guide the feeding of our children.”
Speaking on behalf of Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, Nutrition Division Director Dr. Bedee D. Gbozee underscored the importance of the workshop. She said the Minister is “highly invested” in the reform efforts and thanked partners for their continued support. “We are glad to have you in Margibi to review and revise policies that will make a great impact in our country,” she noted.
Development organizations echoed the urgency of improving complementary feeding nationwide.
CRS Nutrition Program Manager Naana Adjei-Gweh said her institution is deeply committed to the exercise.
“CRS is highly invested in the outcomes of this revision, as we work closely with adolescent girls and their children under two years,” she said, adding that the updated booklet will enhance counseling at community and household levels.
WHH representative Gospell Matondi praised the Health Ministry for taking the lead, stressing the need to increase the use of locally grown foods. “If we prioritize local production, we will improve farmers’ livelihoods and limit the importation of supplementary food products,” he said.
For SADFONS, Nutrition Officer Cleopatra F. Gibson-Jallay emphasized the project’s support for expanding nutrition awareness in rural areas. “We are working with the Nutrition Division to spread the message of nutrition throughout the country and ensure that every child under five has access to safe and nutritious food,” she said.
Providing the rationale for the workshop, Deputy Nutrition Division Director Jestina S. B. Johnson explained that the recipe booklet — first developed and partially distributed in 2020 — requires significant updates. She said the revision aligns with the Ministry’s First 1,000 Days campaign launched recently in Rivercess County. “The measurement and preparation of complementary foods remain an issue,” she warned, noting that current data show rising malnutrition among children under five.
The three-day workshop will focus on standardizing recipes, improving measurement guidance, and updating nutrient recommendations that will be adopted nationwide. The revised booklet is expected to serve as an essential tool for caregivers, health workers, and community educators.
The Ministry of Health anticipates completing the review this week, with a validated version of the booklet ready for national rollout and integration into community health programs in early 2026.
