Ethiopia is addressing stunted growth, wasting, and poor access to essential nutrition services by shifting from facility-based approaches to community-driven solutions, including ensuring children are well-fed. Thus, Ethiopia is strengthening local support systems and improving nutrition and health.
“Feeding a child well is like building the next generation,” states Zemenay Nifussi, elected as one of nine Village Health Leaders serving the rural community of Sire, Oromia. “ I want our community and country to prosper—and that can only happen when we have nourished and healthy children and adults.”
The Ministry of Health has rolled out the Enhanced Community-Based Nutrition programme to tackle the country’s health crisis by providing multisectoral services. The goal is to expand the programme nationwide, positively impacting over 15 million children under five and supporting their growth and development. The programme aims at strengthening local support systems. It focuses on food, water, sanitation, hygiene, social protection, and education, empowering communities to take proactive measures and implement local solutions to improve nutrition and health for children, adolescents, and women. Health extension workers and village health leaders are among the local solutions as workers live within the community and deeply understand the local health and nutrition challenges.
