The Federal Government has begun the training of no fewer than 60 health workers on nutrition to enhance optimal maternal, infant and young child nutrition communication.
Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director and Head of Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, spoke during the exercise on Thursday in Awka, Anambra.
Bako-Aiyegbusi was represented by Mr Ajibola Babatunde, Team lead from the ministry.
She said that the eight-day capacity building exercise for health workers was to enhance optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in the country.
According to her, the training is aimed at increasing quality and cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age.
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The project, funded by the World Bank at the tune of 232 million dollars in partnership with the Federal Government, is implementing a five-year nutrition programme tagged “Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria.”
Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi said the project was to increase quality and cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age.
She said that the objective of MIYCM course was to provide basic training on maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition for those who care for mothers and young children (0-59 months)
According to her, the training will provide participants 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.
According to her, nutrition is in the front burner because people are bothered about the poor indices of nutrition in the country.
She identified poor 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.
“The training is targeted at increasing the skill and knowledge of health workers and volunteers on information to educate people on what they should do in order to have good nutrition practice,” she said.
