The Executive Director of the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Paul Yinkore has charged participants of the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Training Course to justify their training.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop, Dr Yinkore said the training was organized to address the nutrition situation of mothers and children and equip the trainees with skills on the best approach to addressing the situation.
“The health and nutritional status of women and children are linked and improving the health of children will require ensuring adequate nutrition for women throughout all stages of life.
“Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) is a key aspect for human survival. Proper nutrition is important at all stages of life and the consequences of malnutrition extend to many generations, “he said.
Yinkore used the medium to call for attitudinal change from parents, religious and traditional leaders as well as communities on nutrition issues.
“It is time for increased awareness of the dangers of malnutrition. Most diseases can be prevented by adequate nutrition. Everyone has a role to play in breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition.
‘’Let’s encourage early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age.”
The DSPHCDA Executive Director urged the participants to redouble their commitment to nutrition and other health service delivery as it would promote the attainment of universal health coverage.
The Team Lead Facilitator Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka, while buttressing the need for the training, said malnutrition contributes to the staggering cases of hospitalization, inter-generational poverty and high burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and impacts negatively on individuals, households, community development and the nation.
Mrs Eluaka encouraged participants to replicate the training wherever they found themselves. “You are the first batch of master trainers as this training was replicated in eight states of the federation.
“As advocates and ambassadors of MIYCN, you should implement knowledge wherever you are. A lot of malnourished children are available in our grassroots. You have the capacity to change the narrative of our nutrition status. “
Some Participants who spoke lauded the training and pledged to be good ambassadors.
Participants at the eight-day MIYCN Training included consultants, paediatricians, dietitians, nutritionists, food specialists, secretaries of Local Government Health Authorities, nutrition officers of local Government and some line ministries.
