An interview with Ami Koroma

What is your role within your organisation and what does it involve?

I have been working as a nutritionist for 5 years and as a programme manager within the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for a little over a year. I am the National Nutrition Programme Manager – in charge of nutrition policies and the planning, coordinating, monitoring and supervision of all nutritional activities in Sierra Leone. I manage 15 Nutritionists, 13 nutrition focal points and other support staff.

Could you describe the nutritional context of the community you are working with?

Sierra Leone is a small country with about 5.5 million people, of which 17.7% are children under 5 and 4% are pregnant women or lactating mothers. Our recent SMART survey revealed the following results for chidren aged from 6 to 59 months:

• Chronic malnutrition or stunting --- 34.7%
• Severe stunting --- 9.6%
• Global Acute Malnutrtion --- 6.8%
• Severe Acute Malnutrition --- 0.8%

Could you provide an example of any recent achievements your department has made to combat malnutrition?

• Our National Nutrition Policy is in its final stage of development.
• Malnutrition decreased between 2008 and 2010.
• We have expanded our Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme by 30% and increased the number of Nutritionists in the districts from 4 to 8.
• We have revised our protocol for the management and treatment of severe acute malnutrition.

What challenges do you face in your work? How do you overcome them?

We lack human and logistical support and staff have little dedication due to poor salaries.

Working with international NGOs such as ACF helps to bridge the gap and also helps in the areas of training and logistics.

What motivates you to go to work everyday?

My love for my country and the contribution I make towards the improvement of the nutritional status of the country.