NNIA SCIENTIFIC MEETING IN NAMIBIA
On the 27th February, NNIA Board Members hosted a scientific meeting at Arebbusch Travel Lodge in Windhoek, Namibia. The two presenters were Samantha du Toit, Nutrition and Dietetic Consultant, BSc (Med) Hons Nutrition & Dietetics (UCT) and Professor Fredrick Were, Dean of School of Medicine & Professor of New-born Medicine University of Nairobi. They presented on “The nutritional status of children in Namibia” and “The importance of Complementary Feeding during the first 1000 days of life”, respectively.
“The fact that one in every 26 Namibian children die before reaching age 1, and 1 in every 19 do not survive to their fifth birthday is a quick call-for-action and for all hands to be on-deck to tackle this menace”.
In her presentation du Toit recommended the following:
What more needs to be done?
- UNICEF needs to continue building momentum and action around nutrition
- Technical and financial support of the implementation of the National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the Mother-Baby Friendly Initiative
- Help develop and implement a communication strategy for infant and young child feeding practices
- Provide technical support to NAFIN to implement SUNCIP
- Advocate for nutrition-related legislation and policies
FEEDBACK RATING FROM THE PARTICIPANTS:
- “I found the event well planned”
- 30% strongly agreed
- 15.3% agreed
- “I found value in the address delivered by the speaker”
- 21.25% strongly agreed
- 24.59% agreed
- “I now understand what NNIA is about”
- 32.39% strongly agreed
- 1.4% agreed
LADY POHAMA PRIVATE HOSPITAL (LPPH) VISIT BY NNIA BOARD MEMBERS
Sharing experiences and on relevant issues and building effective and long-lasting partnerships with governments, healthcare professionals and other relevant bodies with shared vision and values.
