By: Sam Amos, Jos
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Bank has commenced the training of health workers on the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) in children U-5.
The training, supported by USAID funded Advancing Nutrition in Nigeria project being implemented by Helen Keller Intl will build the capacity of nutrition focal persons at the health facilities in the sate on how to identify and manage children with acute malnutrition.
The participants are drawn from the Ministry of health and its department, tertiary institutions in the State and national and state facilitators. The training will be stepped down to health facilities at the LGA level.
In his keynote remark on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr Mafwalal Bunah Masok expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Helen Keller Intl for selecting the State as one of the beneficiaries of the training.
According to him, “This training is timely considering the prevailing economic situation in the country and the management of acute malnutrition is critical as it will ensure that those affected get the desired care.”
“As a government, we remain committed to ensuring that there is complete turn around in the health sector for improved care and health outcomes. So, I urged you all to participate actively in this training,” he said.
On her part, Pauline Adah, a Nutrition Advisor with Helen Keller Intl welcomed participants and urged them to pay attention to the various topics that will be discussed during the training.
She underscored the importance of the various interventions by Helen Keller Intl around nutrition and management of malnutrition in the country.
