The Delta state government has trained over 20 operators of orphanage homes and creches on best infant and young child feeding practices.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Pat Ajudua, stated this in Asaba, while inaugurating a one day capacity building for caregivers in states-owned creches and children centers across the state.
The program was organized in partnership with the state food and nutrition committee.
Ajudua said the program was organized to broaden the knowledge of the participants on how best to cater for children under their watch, with information on proper infant feeding strategies.
“We have a lot of caregivers and orphanage homes, creches. So there is the need to teach the caregivers how to take care of these children. To make sure that their vitamins are balanced, so that they won’t suffer from malnutrition.”
The State Nutrition Officer, Mr. Benson Etche, who enlightened the participants on the International Code on Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, (WASH), urged the participants to adhere to the principles to prevent the exposure of children to infant morbidity and mortality.
“We are building the capacity of those who take care of government day creches across the state on Infant and Young Child Feeding; the Issue of the International Code on Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes; the issue of WASH; and the issue of Behavioral Change Communication.”
Similarly, a retired Nutrition Expert from the Federal Ministry of Health, Beatrice Eluaka, who spoke on the Global policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, advised nursing mothers and caregivers to practice exclusive breastfeeding without additives.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Eagle Hand Orphanage Home, Mrs Osetalon Esther, who participated at the training described the program as educative.
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