Saamasang
Federation in collaboration with Childfund The Gambia recently conducted a
daylong parenting education training workshop for women in West Coast Region.
The
training centred on infant and child welfare issues such as breastfeeding.
In
an interview with The Point newspaper, Malang Janneh, an official of NaNA
regional health directorate in Brikama, said exclusive breastfeeding for the
six months in the life of a child is very important in protecting children
against childhood diseases and other conditions.
“Breast
milk should be given to a newly born child to ensure that the child receive
adequate iron,” he said. “All the
nutrients that a child needs in food, a balance diet, are in the breast milk.”
Mr
Janneh said after six months, mothers can start to give babies complementary
foods containing elements such as energy, protein and fat.
Lamin
Fatty of Saamasang Federation said the daylong training was important in the
sense that it shows women how to breastfeed their babies and the type of food
that should be given to children after the exclusive breastfeeding period.
He
said Saamasang Federation and Childfund The Gambia are concerned with the
protection and welfare of children because they are the future leaders of the
country.
Mr
Fatty said Saamasang and Childfund have collaboratively organised several
trainings geared towards promoting and protecting the health and wellbeing of
children.
Laibo
Bojang, a participant in the training, commended Saamasang and Childfund for
“the wonderful efforts” towards the health of children and women of West Coast
Region.
She
said the two organisations usually help them in the education of their
children.
She
advised the other participants to share the knowledge gained from the training
with those who were not fortunate to be part of the training.
