A global nutrition initiative, Alive & Thrive (A&T) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday trained health workers in Kaduna State on dangers of Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS).
The zonal coordinator of the organisation, Mrs Sarah Kwasu said in Zaria, that the training was under the A&T Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in Nigeria programme.
Kwasu said that the training was organised by the State Primary Health Care Board as part of efforts to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.
She said the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months towards reducing infant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries.
Kwasu attributed the current low MICYN practices in the country to the continued violation of the International Code of BMS by producers and marketers.
According to her, A&T initiative was being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to save lives, prevent illness, and improve the health and wellbeing of mothers, children, and adolescents.
The state nutrition officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna, said the training was designed to improve the health workers knowledge on their role in protecting pregnant women, mothers, and their infants from inappropriate use of BMS.
Haruna added that the training was also to re-orient the health workers on the importance of promoting early initiation of breastmilk and six months exclusive breastfeeding in health facilities.
