Infant and Young Child Feeding-A Training Programme for Front Line Workers.

This programme was organized and supported by Lake Gardens Women & Children Development Centre, 164/78, Lake Gardens, Flat A-14, Kolkata 700 045. The Director of the Centre is Mrs.Maria Chatterjee.

The venue was Nari Kalyan centre, Tikiapara, Howrah. Dates: 11.04.2010-13.04.2010.

Trainers: Dr. Parbati Sengupta Director (National Trainer) Dr. Kamalendu Chakrabarty (National Trainer) Ms.Manikuntala Dutta (Trainer-Front LineWorkers) Participants: List enclosed.

Daily report maintained by Ms. Manikuntala Dutta.

Time: 9.00 hrs-17.00 hrs

DAY 1

The programme started at 9.00hrs on 11.04.1210. After a few introductory remarks, the trainers and participants introduced themselves. All the participants were employees of the Centre.

The routine, already worked out by the Training Cell of BPNI at Gorakhpur, was followed with local modifications wherever necessary.

The first item was “Why Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding”, followed by the rest of the sessions on the first day. Some mothers and babies from the nearby area had been asked to come for the session on “Assessing and Observing A Breastfeed”. So the participants had practical demonstration of the topic and enjoyed it very much. The other sessions followed with breaks for lunch and tea in between.

DAY 2-12.04.2010.

The day started at 9.00am with a prayer led by one of the participants. Another participant, who had been appointed the rapporteure of the previous day, recapitulated what had been discussed on Day 1. The sessions followed in order, divided between the resource persons with practical demonstrations with mothers and babies wherever possible. On this day a visit to an Anganwadi Centre was arranged. The participants were already familiar with the activities of such a centre ; nevertheless they got a chance to brush up their knowledge. All the sessions were very practical and topical for the trainees. So there was a fair amount of ineraction.

DAY 3-13.04.2010.

As usual, the day started at 9.00am with a prayer followed by the rapporteure’s report. Counselling was further discussed on this day. The first day’s discussion on”Building Confidence and Giving Support” was further reinforced by and extended with “Listening and Learning Skills”. After a briefing on these aspects , a field visit was made to one of the nearby slums where the participants could practice these skills under the supervision of the trainers. This area is amongst the most depressed areas in the city and this slum is one of the poorest with all its attendant disadvantages. The original slum dwellings have been demolished and high-rise buildings have been constructed to house the occupants. There is electricity as well as running water and toilet facilities-perhaps the only advantages that were evident to new observers. A lot of work is being done in this area by the organizers of our Training Programme.

After our return to the venue the rest of the session was completed with some deviation from the set routine. Two brief sessions were included-one on the IMS Act and the other on HIV and Infant Feeding. It was felt that these sessions were necessary considering the sensitive area and the vulnerable population.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

1. Dr. Eckhart Clapier Rtd.GermanPaediatrician 2. Ms. Priyangi Saha 3. Sri Debananda Roy 4. Ms. Bulu Mitra 5. “ Sumana Seth 6. “ Tapati Purokait 7. “ Reshma Khatoon 8. “ Sahista Parveen 9. “ Madhuparna Karmakar 10. Ms. Subhra Dutta 11. “ Guriya Sk 12. “ Rabbia Sk 13. “ Chaitali Koley 14. “ Josephine Tudu 15. “ Maria Chatterjee Director,LakeGardensWomen & Children Dev Centre 16 “ Suman Prabha Bhengra