Malawi Wire

Ms. Tabitha Kimoni from Nutrition International (NI) has advised mothers from Elgeyo Marakwet against giving their infants medicinal herbs during the first six months of their lives.

Noting that most mothers give herbs to their babies to prevent various diseases, Ms. Kimoni said exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months helps prevent mild to severe infections and also protects the baby against chronic conditions in future.

The nutritionist said breast milk has everything the baby needs for easy digestion, brain development, protection from various illnesses and infections and therefore the baby does not need any herbs to do what the milk does.

‘Breast milk contains anti bodies that help the baby fight off viruses and bacteria and the longer a baby breastfeeds the greater the protection from illnesses and long-term diseases,’ she said.

She was speaking in Chepkorio in Keiyo South Sub County during the launch of Malezi bora afya mashinani programme aimed at sensitising women on what they should eat so that both the mother and the child remain health during and after pregnancy.

According to Joseph Anyango, the county NI coordinator, the programme which takes place twice in a year since it was started in the county in 2014 has seen malnutrition levels drop from 30% in 2014 to 22% currently.

Anyango said while there is availability of foods in the county, the challenge was in getting a balanced diet and therefore the establishment of the programme which the county funds at a cost of Sh13 million while NI contributes Sh10 million every year.

The county nutrition coordinator Priscilla Ngetich regretted that few pregnant women attend pre-natal clinics during their first trimester where they can receive advice and instead come late in their pregnancy.

The coordinator appealed to pregnant women to start pre-natal clinics early where they are given iron, folic acid and de-wormers and for those who have already given birth, the children are given vitamin A and de-wormers.

She encouraged women to join support groups in their respective areas and if they are not aware of any, they should enquire from the health facility near them.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged innovators to exert efforts and play their part for the development of Ethiopia by effectively withstanding challenges they might encounter in the course of their activities.

Prime Minister Abiy has today officially launched the 3rd National Competition of Innovation in Addis Ababa.

The nationwide skill competition attracted young people with unique skills and abilities.

The participants are presenting their creative works at the competition organized by the Ministry of Labor and Skills will be held for the coming five days under the theme “Skill for Competitiveness”

Innovation workshops, panel discussions, and other related programs will be underway as part of the competition.

During the opening ceremony of the competition, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged innovators to exert effort and play their part in the development of Ethiopia by effectively withstanding challenges they might encounter in the course of their effort.

The premier stressed the need to increase the number of innovators and effectively use the available inputs as Ethiopia is endowed with abundant raw materials in all the economic sectors.

Noting that Ethiopia has been experiencing several problems, the premier urged innovators to exert the utmost efforts to ensure Ethiopia’s prosperity through solution oriented activities and withstanding challenges they may encounter.

“The innovation works displayed by young Ethiopian innovators here today demonstrates the fact that the efforts being carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Skills are encouraging. Ethiopia is a country with enormous problems. If we are willing to innovate in order to simplify the lives of the people by appreciating these challenges, Ethiopia is capable of providing full-fledged input to all the types of innovation works. However, despite Ethiopia having the ability to produce, it still imports from various countries for there are limitations in the number of people who are capable to innovate and make things simple. The main objective of this event is to reverse this limitation.”

He said the competition program will play crucial role for young Ethiopians with skills and talents to demonstrate their capabilities and create market linkages.

The premier further stressed the need to strengthen innovative skills as Ethiopia has no shortages of inputs, urging innovators to use challenges as a springboard for their effective work.

Minister of Labor and Skills, Muferiat Kamil said Solution oriented technologies play a great deal of role in creating competitive economy and ensuring sustainable development.

According to her, Ministry of Labor and Skills has been carrying out enormous reform activities in order to modernize the technical and vocational sector.

The reforms have already been registering encouraging results, the minister added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has today officially launched the 3rd National Competition of Innovation in Addis Ababa.

The competition organized by the Ministry of Labor and Skills will be held for the coming five days under the theme “Skill for Competitiveness”

Innovation workshops, panel discussions, and other related programs will be underway as part of the competition.

During the opening ceremony of the competition, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged innovators to exert efforts and play their part for the development of Ethiopia by effectively withstanding challenges they might encounter in the course of their effort.

He said the competition program will play crucial role for young Ethiopians with skills and talents to demonstrate their capabilities and create market linkages.

The premier further stressed the need to strengthen innovative skills as Ethiopia has no shortages of inputs urging innovators to use challenges as a springboard for their effective works.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency