Malnutrition: Oyo govt confirms improvement in reported cases

The Oyo State Government has confirmed an improvement in reported cases of malnutrition among children in 33 local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi made this known at the closing ceremony of a two-week capacity-building training for Primary Health Workers jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Health, Nutrition Department, in collaboration with the World Bank and ANRiN Project in Ibadan on Monday.

She noted that the training which comprises 684 participants is divided into two batches.

Also in her address, Representative of the Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Ladidi Bako, represented by Douglas Emmanuel, praised Oyo state for its improvement on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition, MIYCN among other states.

She said, “This event is meant to eradicate MICYN in Oyo state and I must say that Oyo state is doing well, Oyo is at the top now. The event is meant to spread the gospel of exclusive breastfeeding for children up to six months and the importance of nutrition in children.”

Ajetunmobi stated that the training is important in addressing maternal and child nutrition in the country. She emphasized the significance of the training due to the importance of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child.

She further added that the training is held for primary health care workers with the hope that they would train people in their work environment and communities because they are front liners and the closest to the people.

“This training is important because the first 1,000 days of a child are very important, and that is what is being stressed here because any child that is not well nurtured at that stage will be affected in the future,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director of Nutrition, Primary Healthcare Board and Project Coordinator, ARIN, Dr Khadijat Alarape, stated that the training is meant to train primary healthcare workers on the new updates on treatment knowledge and practices expected of health workers across the state.

She noted that the training, comprising 684 participants, is divided into two batches, and advised participants to implement all knowledge gained during the training at their various health centres.

In an interview with Tribune Online, one of the participants, Florence Babalola from Afijio local government, pledged to spread the knowledge gained to her health facility and people in the community.

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