(Lower Margibi, December 11, 2025)— The Ministry of Health has launched an overhaul of the national nutrition recipe booklet for children aged 6–23 months, opening a three-day technical workshop on Monday, to improve complementary feeding practices amid rising concerns over child malnutrition.
The exercise is led by the Ministry’s Nutrition Division in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, SADFONS, and several development partners, convening nutrition experts, policymakers, and county-level health officials in Lower Margibi County to refine the guidelines that shape how Liberian children are fed during their most critical growth period.
Welcoming the gathering, Mr. A. McFarland Kerkulah of the Margibi County Health Team urged participants to fully engage in the review process. “We are pleased to welcome all participants, policymakers, partners, and health practitioners to Lower Margibi County,” he said. “We wish everyone success as you revise the nutrition recipe booklet that will guide the feeding of our children.”
Representing Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, Nutrition Division Director Dr. Bedee D. Gbozee stressed the significance of the review, noting that the Minister is “highly invested” in its outcomes. “We are glad to have you in Margibi to review and revise policies that will make a great impact in our country,” she said. She praised partners for consistently supporting the Division, adding that their contributions “ensure that the Nutrition Division remains effective.”
The review drew robust support from development partners, many of whom emphasized the urgency of improving complementary feeding nationwide.
Mrs. Naana Adjei-Gweh, Nutrition Program Manager at Catholic Relief Services, said CRS is deeply committed to the process.
“CRS is highly invested in the outcomes of this revision, as we work closely with adolescent girls and their children under two years,” she said. The updated booklet, she noted, will strengthen counseling tools used to guide mothers and caregivers. “The results from the next three days will further enhance what we are doing at the household level.”
From Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), Mr. Gospell Matondi commended the Health Ministry for spearheading the reform. “WHH remains committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that food and nutrition security is guaranteed,” he said.
He highlighted the need to shift reliance toward locally grown foods. “If we prioritize local production, we will improve farmers’ livelihoods and limit the importation of supplementary food products,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Cleopatra F. Gibson-Jallay, Nutrition Officer with SADFONS, underscored the project’s role in expanding nutrition awareness in rural communities. “We are working with the Nutrition Division to spread the message of nutrition throughout the country and ensure that every child under five has access to safe and nutritious food,” she said. She welcomed the decision to revise the booklet, stressing its importance for families nationwide.
Providing the purpose of the workshop, Mrs. Jestina S. B. Johnson, Deputy Director of the Nutrition Division, explained that the recipe booklet, first developed and partly disseminated in 2020, requires substantial revisions. “There are things within the booklet that need to be reviewed, and that is the main reason we have gathered,” she said.
She linked the urgency of the review to the recent launch of the First 1,000 Days campaign in Rivercess County. “The ministry is promoting both exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, but the measurement and preparation of complementary foods remain an issue,” she cautioned. Recent data, she noted, show an increase in malnutrition among children under five. “The essence of this gathering is to ensure that our children have the required nutrients for growth and development.”
The workshop will continue throughout the week as experts refine recipes, standardize measurements, and update nutrient guidelines that will shape nationwide feeding practices.
The revised booklet will serve as a key tool for caregivers, health workers and community educators.
The Ministry expects the review to conclude with a validated booklet ready for national rollout and integration into community health programmes in early 2026.