An interview with Fatimata Sabo

What is your role in ACF and what does it involve?

I am the Medical and Nutrition Coordinator for ACF's mission in Burkina Faso. Within the mission I am in charge of training nutrition teams on the ground, carrying out evaluations and needs analyses around the country and devising and adapting interventions in response to needs and changes. I also represent ACF in meetings with external national and international bodies and bring nutrition advocacy into the spotlight.  

What challenges do you face in the work that you do?

 

Among the many challenges I face, the most important ones are maintaining cordial relations with national health authorities and managing the ACF workforce effectively. Another challenge is ensuring that health workers employed by ACF do not replace the health workers of the state. It is crucial for us to remember that ACF is only a temporary solution to the fight against malnutrition. The knowledge which we pass on needs to remain when we leave.

 

Could you provide an example of a specific achievement which you have made in your time with ACF?

I organised a workshop for nutrition workers in collaboration with local and national health authorities. This led to a substantial improvement in the analysis of needs from the participants at a field level.

 

What motivates you to go to work every day?

The knowledge that despite the difficulties which are inherent with the running of programmes, we have achieved positive results. More and more authorities are recognising the value of ACF’s expertise and are willing to work towards the goal of increasing knowledge on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition. Furthermore the fact that ACF is combating the causes of malnutrition through WASH and food security programmes reassures me that we are not placing all our efforts on treating malnutrition. Thanks to other programmes, concerted efforts are made to prevent malnutrition at the household level.