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National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have commenced training of 40 focal persons on improving their knowledge and skills on Communication for Development (C4D) to promote healthy behavioral changes in their various communities.
The 3 days training workshop commenced on Monday in Karu local government area of Nasarawa state with a total of 40 focal persons from Wamba, Lafia, Doma, Kokona and Nasarawa local government areas of the state participating.
In her keynote address, Mrs Priscilla Gondoaluor, Director of NOA in Nasarawa state explained that the goal of the training is to improve the communication skills of the focal persons so that they can effectively and efficiently promote the issues of health, nutrition and social development in their various localities to effect a healthy behavioral change.
“This C4D program is all about behaviour change and social development. UNICEF is supporting us to sharpen our skills to reach out to the people to realize and confront an agenda that is staring at our faces, health challenges,” She said.
She described the training as critical as the new knowledge gotten on improved communication skills will empower the focal persons with the required understanding on how to inform and convince locals on a healthy way of life especially with regards to the health and welfare of women and children.
Also speaking, Mr Eki George, UNICEF C4D Specialist said the training will strengthen the skills of all invited participants to be able to plan, design and implement health communication programs at the state local governments and community levels.
“We are also using this training to strengthen the skills of the participants to be able to contribute immensely in mobilising community in doing everything needed to be done with community members in terms of changing behaviours to ensure these diseases affecting our children are kicked out,” Â he said.
