From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
Delta State government has expressed commitment to improve maternal, infant and young children’s health through optimal food security and nutrition.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme disclosed this yesterday in Asaba at the eight-day training of trainers on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition, MIYCN, Course.
Dr Onojaeme, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Philomena Okeowo, said the state has various interventions and approaches to improve the nutrition of mothers and children.
She said “In Delta, the state government is doing its best to ensure food security through equitable production, distribution and adequate nutrition for high quality of life and socio-economic prosperity for all Deltans as entrenched in the Delta State Policy on Food and Nutrition.”
“Mothers, infants and young child in Delta State have access to optimal nutrition and a healthy start in life beginning with adequate nutrition in pregnancy, early initiation to breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.”
The commissioner urged participants to use the knowledge of the training to improve the health indices in the state, revealing that 7.5 percent of children under five years of age in Delta State are stunted, 0.7 percent are wasted and 13 percent are underweight.
“So, I urge you to actively participate and engage in insightful discussions and interactive sessions that will pave a future where every mother, infant and young child in Delta State have access to optimal nutrition and a healthy start in life beginning with adequate nutrition in pregnancy, early initiation to breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
“He commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health Development Partners.
Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director and Head of the Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, represented by Mrs Philomena Kalafere, said the training aims to promote new norms around feeding practices among mothers and families, cultivate greater understanding among communities on good nutrition-related behaviour towards improving nutrition outcomes for children in the first 1000 days of life.
She added that the training was targeted towards increasing the skills and knowledge of health workers and volunteers on information to educate people on what they should do in order to have good nutrition practice.
Goodwill messages were given by development partners and line ministries including the state coordinator, World Health Organisation, World Bank Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria, ANRIN, Project and the Ministry of Economic Planning.
