10 February 2011
MUSCAT -- A few weeks ago, Bank Sohar had announced that it would lend support to the Ministry of Health and Unicef --Oman's Child Nutrition Campaign aimed at making awareness and educating the target audience in the community.
After a press conference held at the Ministry of Health, the Child Nutrition Campaign was formally launched at a function at the Crowne Plaza Muscat by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saidi, Minister of Health. Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, Chief Executive Officer -- Bank Sohar participated in the launch ceremony of the campaign at the Crowne Plaza Muscat.
The Ministry of Health and Unicef -- Oman's Child Nutrition Campaign will run for a year and will target mothers of young infants and children all over Oman. The campaign will encourage mothers to exclusively breast feed their infants up to the age of completed six months and to continue breastfeed their children up to the age of two years with balanced, varied, nutritious, and healthy complementary food.
The campaign will also focus on the importance of involving both parents in the child's nutrition and parenting.
The campaign has been developed in response to a growing trend among a section of children to consume incorrect types and quantities of food resulting in reduced immunity, increased vulnerability to disease and other health and behavioural problems.
"There has been a marked decrease in the rate of underweight children below five in Oman," according to the national survey of child nutrition in 2009 the prevalence rate of underweight decreased to 8.6 per cent compared to 17.9 per cent in 1999. Dr Samia al Ghannami, Head of community nutrition section -- Ministry of Health, said: "However, in line with Oman's level of development more investments are needed to reduce this further and this campaign is aimed at working towards that goal."
On the occasion, Dr Laila Omar Gad, Unicef Oman Representative said, "This partnership reiterates Bank Sohar's commitment to the well-being of children and its proactive involvement in the 'Child Nutrition Campaign'."
"We were keen to support the Child Nutrition Campaign from the moment we were informed about it, because we know that this campaign can help take this message to the intended audience and make a difference to the life of many children," said Dr Kalmoor during the launch function.
The organisers and supporters of the campaign hope this awareness will lead to improved health in the community and an improved status for Oman in the State of the World's Children's Report.
MUSCAT -- A few weeks ago, Bank Sohar had announced that it would lend support to the Ministry of Health and Unicef --Oman's Child Nutrition Campaign aimed at making awareness and educating the target audience in the community.
After a press conference held at the Ministry of Health, the Child Nutrition Campaign was formally launched at a function at the Crowne Plaza Muscat by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saidi, Minister of Health. Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, Chief Executive Officer -- Bank Sohar participated in the launch ceremony of the campaign at the Crowne Plaza Muscat.
The Ministry of Health and Unicef -- Oman's Child Nutrition Campaign will run for a year and will target mothers of young infants and children all over Oman. The campaign will encourage mothers to exclusively breast feed their infants up to the age of completed six months and to continue breastfeed their children up to the age of two years with balanced, varied, nutritious, and healthy complementary food.
The campaign will also focus on the importance of involving both parents in the child's nutrition and parenting.
The campaign has been developed in response to a growing trend among a section of children to consume incorrect types and quantities of food resulting in reduced immunity, increased vulnerability to disease and other health and behavioural problems.
"There has been a marked decrease in the rate of underweight children below five in Oman," according to the national survey of child nutrition in 2009 the prevalence rate of underweight decreased to 8.6 per cent compared to 17.9 per cent in 1999. Dr Samia al Ghannami, Head of community nutrition section -- Ministry of Health, said: "However, in line with Oman's level of development more investments are needed to reduce this further and this campaign is aimed at working towards that goal."
On the occasion, Dr Laila Omar Gad, Unicef Oman Representative said, "This partnership reiterates Bank Sohar's commitment to the well-being of children and its proactive involvement in the 'Child Nutrition Campaign'."
"We were keen to support the Child Nutrition Campaign from the moment we were informed about it, because we know that this campaign can help take this message to the intended audience and make a difference to the life of many children," said Dr Kalmoor during the launch function.
The organisers and supporters of the campaign hope this awareness will lead to improved health in the community and an improved status for Oman in the State of the World's Children's Report.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
