The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is committed to improving Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) to ensure optimal growth and development of children in the nation’s capital.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, FCTA, gave the commitment at the ongoing 7-day training of trainers on MIYCN, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Fasawe, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Babagana Adam, said that the training of 60 trainers from different sectors became necessary to mobilise relevant stakeholders to promote exclusive breastfeeding and age-appropriate complementary feeding.
She also stressed the need to ensure optimal feeding of young children using nutrition-rich locally available food sources, towards building a healthy and productive population for sustainable development.
Fasawa called on the participants, who were expected to step down the knowledge with other stakeholders to be agents for change and advocate for improved nutrition within their respective communities.
She said that the trainees would be expected to train wider stakeholders, including healthcare providers, caregivers, and policymakers.
According to her, addressing malnutrition requires a multisectoral approach, through cost-effective interventions that will yield desired results.
“There is a need for concerted and aggressive efforts to change the disturbing nutrition indices of women and children in the FCT.
“We will not relent but strive more to achieve our expected goal as enshrined in the FCT Policy on Food and Nutrition,” Fasawa said.
The mandate secretary thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for organising the training and the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria project for funding the training.
This, according to her, is a demonstration of a collective commitment of all stakeholders towards improving the nutrition status of women, children and young persons in the FCT.
The Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr Mohammed Yakubu, said the essence of the training of trainers was to improve the knowledge of stakeholders on MIYCN.
He said that the goal was to equip healthcare workers with the needed knowledge and skills on how to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants, and young children especially those in difficult circumstances. (NAN)
