The Pro-ARIDES program is committed to combating malnutrition in different communities. According to statistics, nearly 50% of child deaths in Burkina Faso are attributable to malnutrition, and over 2.6 million people are affected by some form of micronutrient deficiency. The fight against this recurrence of malnutrition is only possible through the promotion of good nutritional practices, hygiene and sanitation. With this in mind, CARE and its various partners, after having set up twenty (20) School Field sites in the Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre West, North and East regions to enable the production of various vegetables (onions, tomatoes, cabbage, okra, lettuce, etc.), initiated parallel activities of culinary demonstrations and awareness-raising on good nutritional practices with local communities. The aim of this activity was to sustainably improve the nutritional quality of household diets, and more specifically those of young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, by : strengthening their knowledge and skills in preparing balanced, inexpensive food rations from locally available, accessible and self-produced foodstuffs; promoting good nutritional and hygiene practices, in particular food, hand and environmental hygiene. The activity provided an opportunity to discover the diversity of local dishes from each region, and to showcase the culinary wealth of the Pro-ARIDES intervention zones. Participants presented the culinary specialties of their regions. Young people, women and men all pitched in to present delicious dishes that were tasted by the various participants.
At least nineteen (19) demonstration sessions were held during the May-June period at the various sites identified in the project regions. The sessions took place in the localities of Itian, Kéra-Douré, Kounkané, Pella and Ouaguissi in the North region, and Lounga, Ouéra, Yerdion and Pouni-Nord in the Centre-West region, Ountandeni, Litiayenli, Balga, Barwagdin and Sabsidwatin in the East region, and Diéré, Labara, Nouna and Patiarakuy in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. These sessions were well attended by the communities. At least 1,245 young people, women and men took part. These demonstration sessions provided a forum for exchanges on nutrition, hygiene and health issues, as well as an opportunity for dialogue and sharing over community meals, all of which helped to bring communities closer together, thereby strengthening social cohesion and living together. Participants from the Eastern region in the village of Balga testify that since the advent of insecurity, the inhabitants rarely got together, and these days were great opportunities to bring beneficiaries together around common interests. They called for such initiatives to continue, as they would enable communities to get to know each other better and strengthen mutual trust, thereby promoting peace and social cohesion. These sessions received technical support from the health services for maternal and infant nutrition. The various sessions will continue in other localities with a view to promoting the adoption of good nutritional practices by the beneficiary populations within the framework of the Pro-ARIDES project.