The Department of Health Services, in partnership with the Hanaano Project, has launched a six-day training programme on the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) aimed at strengthening maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices across Mandera County.
The training was officially opened by the County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Mr. Ibrahim Ali, and the Director of Community Health Services, Mr. Hassan Ali.
A total of 18 health workers drawn from 13 health facilities and Community Health Units (CHUs) in Mandera East, Lafey, Mandera North, Banisa, and Kiliweheri sub-counties are participating in the training, which is being held at the Granada Hotel.
The programme is supported by RACIDA under the Hanaano Programme, an initiative focused on reducing child wasting within the Mandera Triangle.
In their opening remarks, the County Chief Officer and the Director emphasized the importance of scaling up the Baby Friendly Community Initiative as a key strategy for promoting, protecting, and supporting optimal breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding, particularly during the ongoing drought.
The Baby Friendly Community Initiative is implemented through trained Mother Support Groups that work closely with health facilities and local authorities to support mothers at the community level.
The BFCI course aims to equip health workers with the necessary skills to support breastfeeding through the implementation of the eight BFCI steps and ensure compliance with the Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulation and Control) Act, 2012, in line with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
