HFDI Begins Infant and Young Child Feeding and Saving Lending Communities

By Sola Soremekun

Hope for Family Development Initiatives HFDI has commenced a new grassroot development program tagged Infant and Young child feeding and Saving lending community in Akwa Ibom state.

The program which held at Etinan local government in Akwa Ibom have its participants as the women of bearing age, adolescent, nursing mothers, and the aged.

Speaking to the participants, at the community, the Community Case Manager, Aumoh explained the meaning of Infant and Young Child Feeding IYCF, as well as Saving and Internal Lending Community SILC.

Adding that IYCF is about details of food and nutrition which should be given to the children from age 0-59-months, she added that the early initiation of feeding between the mother and the child immediately after delivery is important.

She highlighted some the benefits as expulsion of retain placenta, opined that first breast milk (colostrum) and exclusive breastfeeding from 0-6-months of age is a priority for every nursing mother.

On Saving and Internal Lending Community, SILC, the participants were guided on how to save money with the little amount at hand, and the women who were happy about the lectures on IYCF and also embraced the savings opportunity.

In a media chat with the Executive Director of Hope for Family Development Initiatives HFDI, Ambassador Dr Aremu Stephen Akinyele on the IYCF and SILC project, he stated that the program is aimed at protecting pregnant and nursing mothers and newly born in the communities by providing them with supports in line with the objective of HFDI.

Adding that every woman in nursing stage should have adequate food and nutrition which is benefiting, he added that economic survival is key, hence starting the saving and lending culture in the communities.

Ambassador Aremu asserted that the project, which has started will move through the communities in Akwa Ibom and states where the organization is also domiciled.