FG trains 60 health workers in Borno on maternal, infant nutrition
The Federal Government has trained 60 health workers on nutrition to enhance optimal maternal, infant and young child nutrition communication in Borno State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director and Head of Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, said that the state was the last to be trained for the project.
“It is good news for us that we are concluding the 6th level training of trainers for maternal, infant and young child nutrition,” she said.
According to her, the eight-day capacity building exercise for health workers was to enhance optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in the country.
The director said that the training was aimed at increasing quality and cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age.
She said the project, funded by the World Bank to the tune of 232 million dollars in partnership with the Federal Government, was implementing a five-year nutrition programme tagged, “Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria.”
Aiyegbusi further said the project was to increase quality and cost-effective nutrition services for specified beneficiaries.
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She said that the objective of the MIYCM course was to provide basic training on nutritional needs of those who care for mothers and young children (0-59 months).
According to her, the training will enrich the participants with up to date information on MIYCN best practices based on its policy, strategy and guidelines.
She said MIYCN course would also help to maximise the impacts on child growth and micronutrient status by focusing on maternal nutrition, delivery practices, and improved infant and young child feeding.
She further emphasised that nutrition was in the front burner because people were bothered about the poor indices of nutrition in the country.
The director identified insufficient knowledge as the cause of poor nutrition in the country.
“We have realised that the key thing that is leading to the poor indices of nutrition is poor knowledge of individual households in the communities on healthy feeding practices.”
However, she added that the project was also ready to support the step down for the front line secondary facility workers on two conditions.
According to her, the state will present a report on the state level training that was just concluded and later write a letter signed by the Commissioner to the Coordinating Minister of Health, stating that the state wanted secondary facility training to take place.
The director appreciated the state team for their support to carryout successful training on nutrition and urged them to start planning to step down the training at the primary facilities.
After the training, the Federal Government will support two more trainings with 120 service providers from the secondary facilities.
“Thereafter, we will want the state to be supported by their respective partners to do step down at the primary level.
“In addition with support from the partners, the Federal Government will support the state to train health workers from selected basic health care designated centres,” she said.
In his speech, Mr Umar Shettima, Deputy Coordinator, Nursing Services, Hospital Management Board, Borno State said that the training would be stepped down to the primary health care facilities.
Shettima said that the participants would not only be responsive, but responsible at all levels to ensure that
issue of malnutrition was addressed.
“On behalf of the participants, I want to say that today is a very special day for us in Borno State and our joy knows no bound.
“I want to assure you that we shall not only be responsive but responsible at all times in order to succeed.
“Everything that the participants learnt will be used positively at the grassroots.
“As participants we shall do our best and my team will not fail in Borno State,” he said.
Also, Mrs Habiba Saidu, Deputy Incident Manager, Polio said they would ensure that mothers in the state practiced proper nutrition.
Saidu appreciated the organisers for ensuring that the training was carried out in the state.
According to her, MIYCN has come to stay in the state as they will ensure that every household practice proper nutrition with locally made products.
“I want to assure you that everything we learnt will be stepped down to the local government areas.
“We learnt a lot of innovation, before now we thought we know everything but with this training, we have learnt lot of skills that will enable us address malnutrition in the state,” she said.
Saidu promised to ensure that mothers would embrace good nutritional practices.
Proofreading and editing by Gift Luckson and Hafsat Aleeyu Muye, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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