Malnutrition Training for Health Workers Commences in Lagos
The Lagos State Government has joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to empower 60 frontline health workers with knowledge and skills to tackle malnutrition affecting mothers, infants, and young children across the state.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria ranked number one in Africa and second worldwide in terms of malnourished children, with 12 million out of 35 million children under-five experiencing stunting as a result of malnutrition. If left unaddressed, severe acute malnutrition can increase the risk of death by approximately 12 times in children.
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare representative, Maria Odey, emphasized the preventable nature of malnutrition, adding that the training will focus on encouraging healthy foods and breastfeeding. “This is specifically for nutrition. It is complementary to treatment, and it’s to encourage mothers to breastfeed and provide healthy meals for their babies,” she said.
The training has been designed to improve maternal and child nutrition through counseling skills, disease management, and access to fortified foods. Director of Nutrition, Folashade Oludara, highlighted the importance of nutritious food during the first two years, stating that irreversible brain damage can occur without proper nutrition.
The World Bank’s Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria Project has supported the training endeavor, with additional funding from FHI 360 Alive & Thrive initiatives. State Coordinator, Olawumi Ajayi, expressed the organization’s determination to combat malnutrition and promote health throughout Nigeria.
Through this training, 60 frontline health workers will gain expert knowledge to make informed decisions and prescribe suitable dietary plans for mothers, especially during pregnancy and lactation. Overall, the aim is to improve Nigeria’s malnutrition rates and enhance the health indices of the country.
