United Nations Fund for Children trains health workers in Anambra State on how to manage acute malnutrition

THE Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHCDA, in partnership with the United Nations Fund for Children, UNICEF, have trained officers in state and local government areas, LGAs, on nutrition and management of acute malnutrition.

The training was been aimed at scaling up the treatment of malnourished children in line with National and global national standards.

It also aimed at establishing three community management of acute malnutrition, CMAM, centres in Anambra State.

The four-day residential training was held at the ASPHCDA, Awka, with some participants from three LGAs — Ihiala, Awka North and Onitsha North in attendance.

Chioma Ezenyimulu, executive secretary, ASPHCDA, said that ‘Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food’, RUTF, for treatment of acute malnutrition in children was now in use.

Ezenyimulu noted that the ASPHCDA received a large quantity of RUTF from Federal Ministry of Health.

She urged the nutrition officers to refer children who face the risk of malnutrition, especially in areas recently affected by flood to Community Management Acute Malnutrition centres, CMAM.

Ezenyimulu enjoined the participants to listen attentively to the training and also put into practice what they learnt.

The executive secretary commended UNICEF for supporting the training, urging them to continue with their support in making Anambra a healthy state.

Bayode Adenike, principal nutrition officer, Federal Ministry of Health,  defined malnutrition as lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right foods.

“It is now a big challenge in the country especially in the areas affected by insurgency and flooding,’’ she noted.

Other guests at the event include Olayinka Chuku, nutrition specialist and UNICEF representative, and Goodness Chidi Anyanum, community nutritionist, Federal Ministry of Health.

– Feb. 7, 2019 @ 18:49 GMT |