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Momodou
Denmark
11790 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2007 : 16:51:06
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NaNA ON GLOBAL BREASTFEEDING WEEK
By Yaya Bajo
Mr. Malang M. Fofana, Senior Programme Officer at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), who also doubles as the national coordinator of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAM), said every year, the International Community, under the coordination of World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) chooses a relevant theme to mark the celebration of "World Breastfeeding Week'. Mr. Fofana made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Foroyaa on Thursday 9 August, 2007 at the NaNA head office in Kanifing.
He said throughout the World, the celebration of the event started from the 1-7 August, but that in The Gambia, because of the importance attached to breastfeeding, the whole month of August has been identified to mark the event. He added that the theme for this year's celebration is "Breastfeeding: The 1 Hour"; that in The Gambia, the activities of the celebration include a statement by Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Vice President of The Gambia. He said Radio and T.V programmes will be launched to sensitize the masses on the initiative. Mr. Fofana further said the celebration will also include "open field days" in all the regions of the Gambia which will be characterised by questions and answers sessions where prizes will be awarded to the participants. He added that at health facility levels, health talks will be organised to raise awareness among patients on the significance of the programme.
Mr. Fofana remarked that NaNA children's Club will also be coming up with activities geared towards marking the event. "We would also love to have the media to be part of the programme," he said.
Mr. Fofana explained that NaNA works in close collaboration with DOSH, NGOs, multi Disciplinary Facilitation Teams (MDFTS) and other stakeholders to implement their programmes; that over the years, NaNa had registered a significant improvement on 'Exclusive Breastfeeding' (four to six months breastfeeding); that about 45.6% of mothers are practising exclusive breastfeeding. He said this is the highest prevalence rate in most of the countries in the subregion.
He said NaNA and its stakeholders are supporting this initiative through the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI), Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCT), Child Survival Programme, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) and "Kabilo" Peer Counselling Programmes.
In conclusion, Mr. Fofana called on mothers to listen to the relevant messages and follow the advice of health workers for the benefit of their children, families, communities and the country, as a whole.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 93/2007, 10 - 12 August 2007
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