Pulse.ng : JNI sensitises 100 clerics to maternal, infant nutrition in Kaduna

Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has sensitised no fewer than 100 Islamic clerics and various Islamic religious sects on Maternal Infact and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN).

Others sensitised were women under various religious groups which included FOMWAN, Initiative for Muslim Women of Nigeria (IMWON), MSO, among others.

The one-day public lecture was in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigerian (ANRiN) project,
supported by the World bank and Center for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI).

Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the public lecture on Wednesday at the JNI Headquartes in Kaduna, Yusuf Muhammad, JNI's Administrative Officer, said the lecture was aimed at accelerating nutrition in pregnant women, children and infants.

He said there are thematic areas in improving the MIYCN which included maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, hygiene, complementary feeding, among others.

Muhammad said the composition of the thematic areas are sanctioned by Islam.

"They are in the holy Qur'an and Sunnah, but we need to remind our selfs of what we need to as Muslims however the hard times. A man must provide for his family in accordance with his earnings.

"As women, they must also manage what the men bring to the table and maintain sanitation and the wellbeing of the house"he said.

The Administrative Officer therefore said they expect the clerics and imams of various mosques to cascade the sensitisation to their followers on the pulpits.

He also said they expect the various religious organisations of women to cascade the sensitisation to women in the communities in different fora on doing the needful.

Earlier, the Secretary General of the JNI, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, said healthy eating is encouraged in the holy Qur'an and Hadith of the Holy Prophet.

He equally said breastfeeding was mentioned in chapter two of the holy Qur'an and other chapters which stressed its importance, adding that cleanliness is part of faith.

Aliyu therefore said it was critical the Muslim community adhere to the holy book's provision and MIYCN to improve the health of the family, children and environment.

He urged the participants to scale down what they learnt to their followers, and communities at large during sermons, and other religions gatherings, naming and marriage ceremonies, get-together, and other avenues.

Also, the Coordinator of ANRiN Project in Kaduna, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, said the organisation fights against the scourge of malnutrition, adding that prevention is better and cheaper.

Muhammad-Idris, represented by Aisha Jakada, ANRiN's Adolescent Health and Nutrition Officer, therefore said the project objectives are utilisation for quality cost effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating married adolescent girls and children under five years of age.

According to her, the groups are the back bone of the society.

"If there is malnutrition among the group, especially married adolescent girls, then there is problem,"she said.

She encourage women to liverage locally available nutritious foods for complementary feeding and early initiation of breast milk immediate after given bath and breastfeeding the infants for at least 1,000 days of life.

One of the participant, Hauwa Idris, a member of FOMWAN, said the lecture was a good avenue for them to add to their knowledge on especially educating rural women on doing the needful during and after pregnancy and children upbringing.

Idris said they would key into enlightening woman especially those at rural communities on the need to disregard harmful pre and post natal practice, while embracing the MIYCN practices.