By Golok Nanmwa,Jos

United Nations Children’s Find (UNICEF) on Monday trained health workers in Plateau on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices .

Our correspondent reports that the training was organised in collaboration with the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board (PSHPHCB)

Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Bahnu Pathak, who spoke at the event in Jos, said the training was aimed at preventing malnutrition among children in the state.

Pathak who was represented by Dr Rajia Sharhan, said UNICEF had a responsibility to cater for the nutrition needs and development of every child below the age of five.

He decried the soaring rate of malnutrition among children in the North, stressing that the training would provide a long-term solution to the imminent challenge, particularly stunting.

He said that “UNICEF is responsible for the nutrition need and development of every child under-five, so this training is one vital exercise for the prevention of malnutrition in children.

“It is developed and initiated to prevent future malnourished children. This simply means that we are not just concerned about the now, but the future consequences of malnutrition.

“We have seen that malnutrition among children is on the rise, particularly in the North and if nothing is urgently done we will be in for it.

“According to the indicators, Plateau situation is stable, but moderate acute malnutrition and stunting, which is irreversible is on the rise,” ,he further added.

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UNICEF trains health workers in Plateau on child feeding