(KPL) The fight against malnutrition in Lao
PDR has taken a significant step forward with the roll out of a new nutrition
training course to boost the number of professionals equipped with key
knowledge and skills, and enable them to pass these on to peers.
Forty-nine men and women from provincial
health services and non-governmental organisations have recently completed the
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Feeding the Future nutrition training
of trainers.
“To
help Lao PDR become a country free from undernutrition, raising awareness and
sharing knowledge is essential,” said Paul Howe, WFP Lao PDR Deputy Country Director. “Working with our partners in the Lao
Government and NGOs, we are able to reach more people in remote rural
communities, where improvements in the area of nutrition are needed the most.”
The trainers are now fully qualified to
empower villagers throughout Lao PDR to improve their diets by educating them
about the dangers of malnutrition and how to prevent it. They are also equipped
to monitor and evaluate progress, and to continue working with villagers in
regular refresher trainings.
“I am
very pleased that WFP builds the capacity of our health staff at district and
provincial levels in Oudomxay, to become nutrition trainers”, said Mr Somchit Chanhsavanh, one of the
training participants and technical expert from Oudomxay Provincial Health
Service. “I
think this nutrition training is the most valuable content that WFP has ever
shared “ the
knowledge and experience provided during the training are easy to understand
and the trainers are well prepared to share this experience with the
communities.”
The Feeding the Future education programme
takes a community-based approach. The goal is to teach women of child-bearing
age and other care-givers in the family about good nutrition practices which
are culturally acceptable. The training will reach more than 120 villages in 10
provinces throughout Laos.
In the village trainings women learn how to
use locally available foods from forests, gardens and markets, to cook in a way
that maximises nutrition and to make their diets more diverse. The trainings
are tailored to different ethnic groups and delivered in their ethnic
languages. The trainers use culturally specific, interactive and enjoyable
training tools. Training messages are reinforced through cooking sessions, role
playing, as well as a variety of games which drive home nutrition messages.
Feeding the Future is in line with the Lao
Government’s
National Nutrition Policy, Strategy and Plan of Action.
Chronic malnutrition is one of the biggest
challenges in rural Laos; in rural areas every second child below 5 years of
age is not able to develop to their full potential. Chronic malnutrition
affects the physical and cognitive development of children. Poor cognitive
capacity hampers learning ability, which in turn impacts household income
earning potential, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty and undernutrition. Improving
nutritional knowledge and diets is therefore central to accelerating future
development in Lao PDR.
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment