Malnutrition: Group disseminates 2 books on complementary feeding

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) on Thursday disseminated a recipe handbook in English and Hausa on complementary food to promote optimal feeding of children above six months of age.
The English version is entitled, “Production and Preparation of Complementary Food: A guide and Instructional Material for Healthcare Professionals, Caregivers, and the General Public in Kaduna state.
The Hausa version is titled, “Hanyoyin Sarafawa Da Hada Nau ‘o’ in Abinci Masu Kara Lafiya Don Baiwa Jarirai Daga Wata Shida Na Haihuwa.”
Chairperson of KADENAP, Hajiya Ummi El-Rufai, wife of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, said at the presentation and dissemination event in Kaduna, that the books would go a long way in preventing child malnutrition.
Ummi, who was represented by the Mr Awwal Aziri, Project Manager, Impact Project, said that the handbook would serve as a guide especially to healthcare providers, caregivers, and mothers of malnourished children.
She added that the book was produced in English and Hausa with pictorial illustrations to reach wider audience with information on complementary food and how to prepare them for children from six month.
“As we know, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) is a preventive approach which targets the nutrition of the child from conception to the child’s second birthday.
“This handbook is a complementary food guide and IYCF material that will help caregivers and mothers of malnourished children when feeding their children after completing the six month’s exclusive breastfeeding periods.
“I sincerely hope that this handbook will not be kept in our shelves, but will be used as an effective tool for sensitization, PHC food demonstration corners and the message will be spread to all nooks and crannies of Kaduna state and beyond, until malnutrition becomes a thing of the past,” she said.
She commended the LAFIYA Project that has supported the validation, production, and dissemination of the nutrition handbook.
She called on all stakeholders and development Partners, Civil Society groups, traditions, religious institutions, and the media to join hands to give the book the widest coverage it deserves.
Mr Umar Bambale, Project Manager, KADENAP, said that the books develop with the help of nutritionists from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Kaduna Polytechnic, was conceived by Ummi El-Rufai, in 2017.