WRITTEN BY SUCCESS ODOEMENA
The Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency has organised a one day training for community Woman Leaders from the
twenty One Local Government Areas of the State on optimal infant and young child feeding in order to enhance every child’s life and growth.
The training, which featured lectures on effects of malnutrition, took place at the headquarter of Dunukofia Local Government Area in Ukpo.
According to statistics, Nigeria is the second country with thirty seven percent malnutrition in children, while in Anambra State, nineteen percent of children under five years are stunted, and fifteen percent are underweight.
Delivering a lecture, the Coordinator, Baby Friendly Initiative in the state, Mrs Ngozi Ekwedike, stated that good nutrition during pregnancy and two years after delivery has a profound impact on the child’s ability to grow.
She noted that good nutrition also enables a child to reach his developmental potential and provides the essential building blocks for brain development, healthy growth and a strong immune system.
Mrs. Ekwedike said that malnutrition can expose children to increased risk of developing illnesses like heart diseases, diabetes and all types of cancer in life, listing lack of balance diet, poor breastfeeding, among others as causes of malnutrition.
The Baby friendly initiative coordinator cautioned mothers against the inherent dangers of drug abuse and improper food intake and also advised mothers to breast feed their babies at least six months exclusively before switching to complimentary foods.
In their separate remarks, the Woman leader of Awka Town, Barrister Mrs. Ogechukwu Ekweozor and the traditional ruler of Nibo community, who was represented by Mr. Arinze Obi, emphasized on the need for mothers to breastfeed without giving excuse of falling breast as it helps in reduction of infant mortality.
Highpoints of the training include presentation of charts and illustrations on breast feeding.
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