Fueling Futures: ECSA Region Sparks Change with Bold Adolescent Nutrition Advocacy Strategy Dissemination

East Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) region has approximately a population of 250 million people and about 56 million are adolescents (10-19 years of age), accounting for about 26 percent of the total population. Out of 56 million, girls make up 50.6 per cent of all the adolescents in the region.

Picture this: Adolescence, a unique transformative life phase filled with growth, maturation, and physiological changes. With 56 million adolescents in the ECSA region, there’s a need to address their increased nutritional requirements. This critical stage often sees inequities in health and nutrition, making it imperative to incorporate adolescent needs into policy and program considerations.

In February 2023, the Health Minister’s Conference launched the Regional Adolescent Nutrition Advocacy Strategy. This landmark event set the stage for member states to utilize and adapt the strategy, propelling momentum toward enhancing the well-being of adolescents in the region.

The strategy focuses on targeted interventions, aiming to reduce anaemia among adolescent girls, boost funding for adolescent nutrition, raise awareness of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents, and combat adolescent overweight and obesity. The goal is clear: strengthen programs that reduce undernutrition among adolescents.

Dr. Charles Olaro, Director of Curative Health Services, emphasized the significance of adolescent health in Uganda. The country’s Human Capital Development Programme incorporates adolescent matters, reflecting the growing evidence of nutrition’s contribution to health outcomes. Dr. Olaro stressed the need for a comprehensive multisectoral plan for adolescent nutrition at all levels, both national and subnational.

The dissemination meeting, attended by over 40 key stakeholders, was graced by Dr. Charles Olaro and featured Mr. Zakaria Fusheini from UNICEF delivering a powerful keynote speech. The ECSA HC and its partner Nutrition International were commended for developing the strategy in a highly consultative manner, ensuring buy-in from member states.

Adolescents face unique challenges, from identity loss to issues like teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, and unhealthy habits. The ECSA region’s commitment, showcased through the Regional Adolescent Nutrition Advocacy Strategy, signals a united effort to prevent and address these challenges. With key stakeholders on board and a clear plan in place, the