The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Bisiola Olusanya, has said that the training of mothers on baby nutrition formula processing was to improve the welfare of babies.
Olusanya said this at the opening session of a five-day training for mothers on improved baby nutrition formula organised by the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) in partnership with the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN).
The theme of the training is entitled: “Nutrition Improvement, Complementary Baby Food.”
According to her, the training is to teach mothers on methods of processing balanced baby formula using available, but inexpensive food materials. Olusanya said that the training was key to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s policy of improving the lots of the citizenry.
She tasked the participants to internalise the training and deploy it in enhancing baby welfare, adding that that the best medicine for human care was the consumption of good food. According to her, the state is toeing the tents of the UN’s SDG in ensuring that the populace is well taken care of.
“The governor in his wisdom envisaged a future healthy Lagos generation that will be devoid of common health crisis.
“With the rise in price of conventional baby formulas and the subsisting decline in parents earning, it is thoughtful we find an alternative to aid even development of our babies,” Olusanya said.
She admonished parents to maintain a healthy baby friendly environment to forestall infection. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shakirudeen Onasanya, commended the state for putting the project in its agenda.
Onasanya urged the participants to spread the skills learnt to fellow mothers who were not at the training for the common good.
The Programme Manager, Dr Perrira Sheteolu, said that the training was painstakingly conceptualised to broaden mothers` knowledge in baby formula processing.
He said that with the crop of nutritionists, who were as resource persons, the state would be having mothers that would be of assets to the family and the state.
He added that the state would carry out an evaluation of the impact of the programme with a view to improving on it.
Mrs Bola Doharty, one of the participants, said that the training was an eye opener, adding, they were filled with awe on the much they could achieve with food materials around them.