Malnutrition: Alive&Thrive Backs FG’s Lagos Caregivers Training to Reduce Bad Nutrition Indices 

Ayodeji Ake 

To address the increasing bad nutrition indices in Lagos State, the commercial hub of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry Ministry of Health (FMOH), trained Lagos State master trainers on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Feeding Nutrition (MIYCN).

Speaking at the ongoing training Lagos State schedules for July 10 to 17, 2024, representing the Federal Ministry of Health, Lead Trainer, Mrs. Maria Odeh, welcoming trainees, expressed worry over increasing bad nutrition indices.

She said: “I bring greetings from the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate. I’m impressed that Lagos State is already contributing its quarter to cater to our bad indices nationally. Even looking at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) 2018, was horrible, and the food crisis and nutrition issues are getting worse by the day. 

“This training is timely for everyone including Lagos States is the commercial hub of the country with a very large population, fertility rates and other issues.

“We are glad that we have this kind of support from the government. We appreciate the Lagos state government for all their support. The participants were carefully selected to improve our healthcare system in terms of maternal, infant, adolescent, and nutrition. The men are not excluded.”

The Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folashade Oludara, told newsmen that the training is an indicator that soon there will be improvement in the Lagos State nutrition indices.

“We are conducting training of master trainers on maternal, infant, and young child feeding. The objective of the training is just simply to improve nutritional indices in the state.

We know that right now there is food insecurity everywhere and the major group of the community affected are the mothers and children. Pregnant women and children under the age of five.

“What we are doing today is to intensify the efforts, to improve the efforts of our health workers in providing that correct information

to the caregivers or pregnant women on the type of nutrition, food or diet that they are to take that will give them optimal nutrients that are required for optimal growth for under five and required for optimal outcome of pregnancy,” she said.

In her goodwill message, the State Coordinator Alive&Thrive Lagos, Olawumi Ajayi commended the FMOH and LMOH, and also said the training will improve nutrition.

She mentioned that “FHI 360 is dedicated to creating lasting solutions that improve lives and health outcomes across the globe. We believe that through collaboration and continuous learning, we can make significant strides in combating malnutrition and promoting health and well-being for mothers and children in Nigeria and beyond.

In conclusion she added that FHI 360 Alive&Thrive project is honored to support the Lagos State Ministry of Health on this training and we believe it will go a long way in improving the nutrition situation in the State.”