ASABA/Nigeria: In a proactive move to enhance the well-being of children in state-owned creches and orphanage homes, the Delta State Government has successfully trained over twenty caregivers from various senatorial districts. The training focused on instilling Best Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices, emphasizing the significance of proper nutrition for the holistic development of children.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Pat Ajudua, formally announced the initiative during the inauguration of a One Day Capacity Building program in Asaba. The event brought together caregivers from creches and children centers across the state, aiming to equip them with essential knowledge on effective child care practices.
Organized in collaboration with the State Food and Nutrition Committee, the program aimed to broaden participants’ understanding of optimal strategies for nurturing the children under their care, with a specific focus on infant feeding methods. Mrs. Ajudua stressed the importance of ensuring balanced nutrition for the children to prevent malnutrition, highlighting the prevalence of caregivers and orphanage homes in the state.
“We have a lot of caregivers and orphanage homes, creches. So there is the need to teach the caregivers how to take care of these children. To make sure that their vitamins are balanced so that they won’t suffer from malnutrition,” observed Hon. Ajudua.
Mr. Benson Etche, the State Nutrition Officer, provided insights into the International Code on Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). He urged participants to adhere to these principles to safeguard children from potential health risks and reduce infant morbidity and mortality.
“We are building the capacity of those who take care of Government Day creches across the state on Infant and Young Child Feeding; the issue of the International Code on Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes; the issue of WASH, and the issue of Behavioral Change Communication,” noted Mr. Etche.
Addressing the gathering, retired Nutrition Expert Beatrice Eluaka from the Federal Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding without additives, aligning with the Global policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
Participating in the training, Mrs. Osetalon Esther, Coordinator of the Eagle Hand Orphanage Home, lauded the program as highly educative, underscoring its value in enhancing the capabilities of caregivers to provide optimal care for the children under their charge. The Delta State Government’s commitment to this initiative reflects a broader dedication to the well-being and development of the state’s youngest residents.
