Sierra Leone is to host the eleventh ECOWAS Nutrition Forum in September next year, according to the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) Liaison Officer and Deputy Secretary II in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Tommy Tengbeh.
Briefing the press after representing the Ministry at the Assembly of Health Ministers meeting in Bissau, Mr Tengbeh said the ECOWAS Nutrition Forum would attract over 100 participants from member states, adding that the government of Sierra Leone was expected to provide 50 percent of the budget.
Mr Tengbeh said WAHO had promised to facilitate additional assistance from Helen Keller International and other partners.
Commenting on the Bissau meeting, he said delegates deliberated on various key issues including the need for ECOWAS countries to intensify their advocacy role for harnessing resources of major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, yellow fever, meningitis and poliomyelitis.  
These diseases, Mr Tengbeh said, “are still endemic in some parts of the sub region including Nigeria and Niger.