HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS MINISTRY, FHMPI TRAIN 100 PARTICIPANTS ON IYCF IN ZAMFARA
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in collaboration with First Humanitarian Medic Plus Initiative (FHMPI) a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) have trained caregivers, health workers and community volunteers on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) in Zamfara state.
The 100 participants of the training were drawned through the state office of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSF) and State Primary Health Care Board.
The participants also include caregivers of children that benefited from the NHGSF programme, Community Volunteers and Health Workers.
Speaking at the close of two-day training in Gusau the facilitator of the training, Mrs Elizabeth Gwaza said the objectives of the training is to improve knowledge and skills on IYCF feeding practice achieving of food group in one meal.
According to her, the FHMPI is a non-political and non-profitable humanitarian relief and development organization that render humanitarian services to the best of her abilities for the overall betterment of mankind.
Read Also: Kogi buries poisoned cows, gives 7 days off beef consumption
Gwaza said the focus areas of the NGO include Maternal and Child Nutrition, Poverty alleviation and livelihood trainings, Skill acquisition trainings and certification and funding guide and Civic education.
“It is in light of the above, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, through her NHGSF programme engaging the NGO to deliver a Child Intensive Nutrition Intervention with the aim of improving community knowledge and raising awareness on preventive measures against malnutrition crisis in the country.
“This is geared towards achieving sustainable food and nutrition security and eliminate all forms of malnutrition and have a well-nourished population.
“Apart from Zamfara other states benefited from the programme is Ebonyi, Bauchi Osun and Cross Rivers”, she explained.
Gwaza further said that the training is also aimed at improving the trainees knowledge and skills on prevention management of moderate malnutrition and prevention relapse among recently recovered severe acute malnutrition.
The State Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar MC represented by the Executive Secretary, State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Tukur Isma’il commended Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for selecting Zamfara for the training.
The Commissioner said the stakeholders’ collaboration in promoting nutrition is necessary considering its impact to future of our children and society in general.
“You know, malnutrition is very dangerous to survival of our children, because sometime problem of malnutrition affected children since before their birth”, he said.
The Commissioner urged pregnant women to utilize local food available to them to promote their health.
In his remark, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Ahmed Abdullahi said the training is one of the initiatives of the ministry to partner with all stakeholders in its desire to fight against malnutrition in Nigeria”,
Abdullahi commended support and cooperation by the state government through Ministry of Health, NHGFS office for their support and cooperation to the training.
In his remarks, the State Coordinator, NHGSF programme, Kabiru Abubakar said the training is inline with the policy of both state and federal government to promote provision of adequate diet for our children especially at infant stage.
He noted that nutrition play important role for the development and survival of children.
He called on the participants to listen attentively and benefit from various papers to be presented during the training.
Earlier, the State Nutrition Officer, Salihu Bakwai said the programme is to empower the participants on IYCF, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and dietary diversification as well as Growth Monitoring and Promotion.
“The programme is targeting children 0-2 years and 5-8 years, adolescent, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers”, Bakwai added.
