REPORT ON NATIONAL TRAINING OF TRAINERS ON MATERNAL, INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD NUTRITION (MIYCN) TRAINING COURSE HELD FROM 18TH TO 25TH MARCH 2024, AT AL-VARI HOTEL, KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE
The national training of trainers on maternal infant and young child nutrition training course was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This held at Al Vari Hotel from 18th to 25th March 2024.
The Training was coordinated by 9 Facilitators with Prof. John Collins as the Lead Consultant. The Facilitators delivered a modular course content with !0 modules covering Course Introduction, Counselling, Adolescent and maternal nutrition, breast feeding, complementary feeding, MIYCN in exceptionally difficult circumstances, Actions to promote, Protect and support breast feeding, Nutritional assessment and growth monitoring, social and behavioral change communication as well as monitoring and evaluation.
The Methodology adopted for the training included discussions, group work, role plays, field practice and food demonstrations.
The overall goal of the training was to equip the participants with knowledge and skills that would enable them step down the training at the State level. This is expected to improve the counselling practices of healthcare workers, breast feeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers and care givers with attendant outcome of improved nutritional status of Mothers, Infant, Young children and adolescents. At the long run it is expected to translate to minimized morbidity and mortality indices among this population group.
A deep reflection on the robust content delivered by well motivated facilitators has set ablaze in me the preconceived interest in the Nutrition space.
With sufficient understanding of the importance and benefit of adequate and age-appropriate nutrition throughout the lifecycle of one’s development which cuts across improvement in cognitive development, enhanced educational performance and future productivity, I am making a commitment that the knowledge and skills acquired in the course of the training shall not be allowed to lay dormant.
At every given opportunity to my colleagues, students and clients, I shall step down in bits and continue to do so until the required outcome of improved nutritional status and long term minimization of nutritionally related morbidities and mortalities amongst women, infant and children are realized.
I therefore solicit for the support of our noble Association APHPN, every one that is aware or reading this letter to enable me achieve this tall goal in good record time to the benefit of families, communities and the nation at large.
Prof. Priscilla Mwuese Utoo (Chairman, APHPN Public health Nutrition Caucus)
