The World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project is supporting the revitalisation of Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) in six local government areas of Kaduna State.
The project manager, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, stated this yesterday in Zaria during a three-day training of healthcare workers on breastfeeding and lactation management.
Muhammad-Idris explained that BFI was designed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding practices in line with WHO recommendations.
“When a new baby is delivered, it is expected that the child will be exclusively breastfed within the first six months of the child’s life.
“This goes a long way in positioning the child to thrive and develop to his or her full potential without the risk of contracting infection or even getting malnourished. Breastfeeding is a very vital practice and a cost-effective step that helps in reducing new-born death as well as child mortality.
“It also enhances the survival of children so that they will grow to become adults that are very productive to themselves, their communities and the country,” she said.
She added: “We have 36 participants currently being trained, but in all, a total of 114 healthcare workers will be trained, 19 from each of the LGAs, namely Makarfi, Lere, Igabi, Chikun,Kauru and Jaba.”
She explained that the training of the health workers was very important, saying that when a woman goes to the facility to deliver, the first attempt to breastfeeding starts from the health facility.
Earlier, nutrition specialist, ANRiN, Kaduna project implementing unit, Hajiya Hauwa Usman, said the objective of the training was to review the knowledge and skills of key service providers on breastfeeding and lactation management.
