Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has called for increased investment in maternal and child nutrition, stressing that the decisions made during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are fundamental to Sierra Leone’s long-term resilience and development.
Writing in an opinion article following the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026 in Germany, the Vice President stated, “The choices we make in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life will shape our nation’s resilience.” He noted that the period from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday is critical for brain development, learning, future productivity, and economic growth.
Jalloh explained that Sierra Leone records approximately 700 births every day, making early childhood nutrition and healthcare not only a public health priority but also a strategic national investment. He stressed that ensuring children receive proper nutrition and care during this period lays the foundation for a healthier, more educated, and productive population.
The Vice President highlighted several government initiatives supporting this vision, including the Feed Salone programme, school feeding initiatives, food fortification, nutrition-responsive budgeting, and the proposed Nourish Salone movement. He said these interventions are designed to strengthen the country’s human capital while reducing poverty and improving national resilience.
Dr. Jalloh further argued that many developing countries often face difficult choices between investing in infrastructure, healthcare, climate resilience, and social protection. However, he maintained that prioritizing preventive investments, particularly in maternal and child health, is more cost-effective than responding to crises after they occur.
He also called on international development partners to provide more predictable concessional financing, stronger risk-sharing mechanisms for private investment, and greater flexibility in development funding to enable countries like Sierra Leone to invest in their people and achieve sustainable development.
The opinion article, published by AYV News after the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, reinforces Sierra Leone’s commitment to building national resilience through investments in early childhood development and human capital.
