In response to the alarming rate of child malnutrition and abuse in the society, the Anwojue Hope Foundation (AHF) has held a sensitisation and outreach programme for parents and caregivers in Itele Community in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The outreach, held under the theme “Nurturing the Future Together,” at Itele Town Hall recently, also marked the celebration of the birthday of the founder of AHF.
Over 100 pregnant women and nursing mothers participated in sessions on positive parenting, practical child nutrition and responsible upbringing.
According to the Foundation’s Project Manager, Mrs Busayo Soyebo-Eniade, the outreach was driven by the need to address the root cause of the many reported cases of child abuses, malnutrition and other forms of abuse against children by sensitising parents and caregivers on positive parenting.
Soyebo-Eniade added that the outreach goes beyond distribution of relief materials to enlightening community members on the importance of raising responsible children and the benefit for society.
She said, “As part of our annual tradition, every 24th September, which is the birthday of Omoba Adeolu Omokayode Anwojue, our founder, Anwojue Hope Foundation (AHF) visits a rural community for humanitarian intervention. Over the years, this has always been in the form of medical outreach and food support.
“However, this year, we decided to deviate from the regular. This decision was informed by the alarming rate at which children are being abused daily in various forms, records of which abound on social media. We also observed that social media itself plays a significant role in the abuse and negative influence on children.
“We, therefore, felt the need to go beyond relief materials and address the root cause. We decided to sensitise parents on positive parenting, child nutrition, and responsible upbringing, while also supporting them with essential baby items.”
Delivering a keynote address during a session on “Mother and Child: Breastfeeding, Nutrition and Positive Parenting,” Dr Yaya Babatunde charged mothers at the outreach on the importance of regular antenatal care, adequate rest and balanced diet during pregnancy.
Dr Babatunde stressed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life with no water or herbs is needed for a child’s development and demonstrated proper breastfeeding positions to ensure adequate milk flow and prevent discomfort.
Other sessions focused on positive parenting, mother-child bonding, stress management, food hygiene and hand washing, and the preparation of affordable, nutritious complementary meals using locally available food such as fortified pap, beans, mashed plantain with fish, and vegetable soups.
Speaking on the outreach, AHF Coordinator in Ijebu, Mr Ebibo Kebi Austine, said the Foundation remains committed to improving maternal and child wellbeing in underserved communities and called for partnerships to scale up the initiative.
In line with its commitment to supporting vulnerable families, the Foundation, through its Programme Manager, Mr Samuel Anwojue, distributed free baby items to the participants, including diapers, wipes, baby milk, noodles, baby bonds, and cereals.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Foundation for the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful and promised to implement the lessons from the outreach.
They also wished the founders a happy birthday and offered special prayers and goodwill to the organisers.