From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has trained 50 Community Volunteers (CVs) on Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Mr Adams George, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, explained at the beginning of the three-day training in Ikara yesterday, that the effort was to strengthen IYCF practices at community level.
George said that the volunteers comprised 45 CVs and five Ward Development Community (WDCs) Chairmen to promote adequate IYCF practices at community levels as an effective strategy of preventing malnutrition.
He explained that after equipping the volunteers with relevant skills, the CVs would be expected to establish 45 support groups, one by each of the CVs in their various communities.
Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, told media that the C-IYFC was a proven preventive measure against malnutrition using locally available food items.
Ezeife said that IYCF comprises early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and appropriate complementary feeding after six months.
She said that UNICEF, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Board was currently supporting the implementation of the C-IYCF programme in 17 local government areas of the state.
