BUJUMBURA, November 13th (ABP) – On the 2nd day of the journalists’ workshop on the collection and handling of information related to nutrition and reproductive health, two themes were on the agenda. It’s about family planning and good nutritional practices.
On the theme of family planning, Mr. Philibert Sinzinkayo, expert and communication technician, working in the national reproductive health policy in Burundi (PNSR), indicated in his presentation that the main constraints in terms of family planning are manifested particularly in the existence of sociocultural and religious obstacles, as well as the low involvement of men in decision-making in favor of family planning.
He further highlighted that the low literacy rate especially among women, the persistence of rumors linked to different planning methods, are also challenges linked to reproductive health.
Mr. Sinzinkayo took the opportunity to ask journalists to deny people who spread false information related to the use of contraceptive methods to change their social behavior.
Dr. Fidèle Ngenzabahizi, director of the National Health Program and the National Integrated Food and Nutrition Program (PRONIANUT), in a presentation on good nutritional practices, explained that good nutrition contributes not only to improving school results to schoolchildren and students in countries, particularly low-income countries, but also to improving their nutritional and health status.
Good nutrition also contributes to the reduction of all forms of malnutrition (acute and chronic), and the appearance of diseases. He did not fail to emphasize that good nutrition must be balanced and based on the three main food groups including growth foods, energy foods and protective foods.
Regarding the consequences of malnutrition, Dr. Ngenzabahizi stressed that a malnourished mother is more likely to give birth to a child who is malnourished or who will suffer from malnutrition during childhood, adding that people who suffered from malnutrition in childhood are more likely to be short as adults and be less productive at work. Reiterating his presentation, he said that malnourished children, when they become adults, earn 10-17% less than those who were well nourished in childhood.
At the end of the two days of training workshop, the journalists were delighted with the knowledge acquired in the training because, they specified, this knowledge will allow them to properly process information related to nutrition and reproductive health.
The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS through the national health program and the national integrated food and nutrition program (PRONIANUT) in collaboration with the “NKURIZA” project.