UNICEF Organizes media dialogue to promote advocacy on age-appropriate complementary feeding

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stated that in order to promote the advocacy on age-appropriate complementary feeding, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office is organising a media dialogue and media field visit for selected Journalists from Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe.

It also stressed that Infant and young child feeding is crucial for enhancing child survival and fostering healthy growth and development.

UNICEF further emphasised that the initial Two years of a child’s life carry significant importance, as providing optimal nutrition during this period can lower morbidity and mortality rates, diminish the risk of chronic diseases, and facilitate overall better development.

The Fund emphasised that around the age of 6 months, infants are also developmentally prepared for the introduction of other foods as complementary feeding.

According to the letter of invitation, “Therefore, in order to promote the advocacy on age-appropriate complementary feeding, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office is organising a media dialogue and media field visit.

The letter of invitation also stated that the dialogue will share insights into some questions including: How can governments, policymakers, parents promote complementary feeding?

Other questions to be discussed are: How does age-appropriate complementary feeding enhance the prevention of malnutrition? What is the child nutrition fund? How can state governments maximize the fund to enhance nutrition conditions in their states?

It was however disclosed that in some LGAs in Gombe state, UNICEF Bauchi FO is implementing a complementary feeding project. As part of the media engagement, there will be a field trip to one of the LGAs.

Date of the dialogue is 16 and 17 May 2024 at the Emerald Hotel Gombe, while the field visit is on Friday, 17th May to Kaltungo LGA.
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