Ministry of Health Organizes Workshop about Feeding Pregnant Women Protocol and Infants Policies

12/07/2012

The Central Administration for Maternity and Childhood at the Ministry of Health organized a workshop about the protocol of feeding pregnant women and policies of feeding infants and young children.

The workshop continued for two days in the ministry of health premises for employees of the primary health centers, maternity and childhood centers and hospitals of the ministry of health all over the emirates.

Dr. Hajar Al Hosany, Director of Central Administration for Maternity and Childhood at the Ministry of Health, said: “The workshop aims for enhancing the skills and capabilities of the healthcare staff especially nutritionists, doctors, nurses and other employees who are specialized in the field of mother and child care. The workshop also provides consultants and nutrition advices for mothers about their nutrition health”.

She explained that the administration adopted the application of the pregnancy protocol of feeding pregnant women and policies of feeding infants and young children based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The protocol is an important reference source that helps mothers to adopt the correct nutrition behaviors, weaning babies, complementary nutrition for mothers and babies.

Dr. Al Hosani emphasized that the ministry began applying the protocol after adding the recommendations of the World Health Organization to ensure the implementation of these policies as requested.

“The application of the protocol and nutrition programs for infants and young children correctly would definitely protect children from malnutrition diseases especially diabetes and obesity, being one of the most dangerous factors causing infectious and chronic diseases such as heart and cancer which are considered one of the main health challenges in the region”, she elaborated.

The workshop discussed topics related to the nutrition of mothers, infants and young children such as the benefits of natural breast feeding, concepts of children friendly hospitals, children food allergy, the role of natural breast feeding in protecting children from diseases, complementary nutrition for infants and young children and correlation with children natural growth, mother’s nutrition during pregnancy and breasting feeding, nutrition specialists skills.

The workshop reviewed the modern growth trends of children, children’s nutrition with special health problems, nutritious research modern techniques and a blog to regulate the alternatives of mother’s milk with continuous surveillance. The workshop was attended by specialists from UAEU, Ajman University, Fatma Health Sciences College and doctors from Al Baraha Hospital and maternity and childhood consultants.

The Central Administration for Maternity and Childhood emphasized that the nutrition of mothers especially in pregnancy and breast feeding as well as the nutrition of infants and young children is one of the vital topics that are highly important to local and international health organizations.

She also added that nutrition has become a major concern lately for the health authorities due to the expansion of nutrition markets and industrial milk products and their large consumption in the absence of the correct and adequate guidelines.

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the goal of the international strategy for infants and young children nutrition is to protect, encourage and support nutrition practices. The strategy also assures that the extended period beginning from the birth of the baby till the child’s second year is a very important chance to achieve growth, health and behavioral development.

The adequate nutrition for infants and children depend on providing the baby with natural breast feeding especially during the first six months and continuing his breast feeding for two years or more. Complementary and safe nutrition is very important for babies at the age of six months and mothers too.

It is noted that the central administration for maternity and childhood at the ministry of health provides preventive, therapeutic services being one of the health priorities and programs that are implemented by the administration. The nutrition of pregnant women, infants and young children aims for ensuring a safe pregnancy period and birth. These nutrition procedures are highly important not only for the health of mothers and infants but the entire family and society.

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