FCTA To Improve Maternal And Child Nutrition

By: Prudence Okonna

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is committed to improving Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition, for optimal growth and development of every child in Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, made this commitment during a training of sixty stakeholders from different sectors across the six Area Councils on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition, in Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary said that this commitment follows indices showing that more work needed to be done in encouraging exclusive breastfeeding by mothers and improvement of quality feeding of young children with available locally made food sources in the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, HSES, Babagana Adam, called for concerted aggressive effort to change the narrative by striving more to achieve expected goal as enshrined in the FCT Policy on Food and Nutrition.

Fasawe enjoined the participants to be agents of change and advocates for improved nutrition within their respective communities.

Her words: “Your role as trainers holds immense importance as you will be instrumental in cascading this knowledge to a wider audience, including healthcare providers, caregivers, and policymakers”.

While thanking the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) for organising the training and the World Bank Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project for funding, the Mandate Secretary said the gathering shows a collective commitment of all stakeholders.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), Mohammed Yakubu, said the essence of this training of trainers is for learning and relearning; to train healthcare workers with Knowledge and skill on how to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants, and young children, especially in difficult circumstances in the FCT.

Abuja Digest reports that, the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) revealed a decline in MIYCN related indices in the FCT.

Abuja Digest further reports that the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under 5 years of age are 21.2%, 3.0% and 12.1% respectively, while early Initiation of Breastfeeding was at 29.1% in 2016 but dropped to 20.7% in 2021.