DELTA State Government has expressed renewed commitment to improving maternal infant and children’s health through optimal food security and nutrition.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this in Asaba at an eight-day Training-the-Trainers course on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN). Onojaeme, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, in the ministry, Dr. Philomena Okeowo, said the state has various interventions and approaches to improve nutrition of Mothers and children.
She said “In Delta, the State Government is doing its best to ensure food security through equitable production, distribution and adequate nutrition for high quality of life and socio-economic prosperity for all Deltans as entrenched in the Delta State Policy on Food and Nutrition.”
“Mothers, infants and young child in Delta State have access to optimal nutrition and a healthy start in life beginning with adequate nutrition in pregnancy, early initiation to breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.” The Commissioner urged participants to use the knowledge of the training to improve the health indices of the state, revealing that 7.5% of children under five years of age in Delta state are stunted, 0.7% are wasted and 13% are underweight.
“So, I urge you to actively participate and engage in insightful discussions and interactive sessions that will pave a future where every mother, infant and young child in Delta State will have access to optimal nutrition and a healthy start in life beginning with adequate nutrition in pregnancy, early initiation to breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life”.
He commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health Development Partners.
Speaking on the overall of the MIYCN, Mrs. Ladidi Bako Aiyegbusi, the Director and Head of the Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, represented by Mrs. Philomena Kalafere, said the training aims to promote new norms around feeding practices among mothers and families, cultivate greater understanding among communities about good nutrition-related behaviour towards improving nutrition outcomes for children in the first 1000 days of life. She added that the training was targeted towards increasing the skill and knowledge of health workers and volunteers on RTT.
