Training Day to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health

Oued Amlil – The promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and the strengthening of skills among local stakeholders in maternal and child health were the focus of a study and training day organized Thursday in Oued Amlil, as part of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).

Initiated by the Provincial Committee for Human Development, in partnership with the Taza health sector, this meeting, held at the Oued Amlil Youth Center, benefited community mediators from the Oued Amlil district. It is part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness among families about the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, particularly through exclusive breastfeeding.

The day’s program included theoretical and practical presentations on communication, awareness-raising, and referral techniques, as well as workshops designed to strengthen participants’ skills and provide them with tools to support mothers and families in the field.

On this occasion, smartphones, work tools, bags, printed materials, and posters were distributed to the beneficiaries to facilitate communication with various stakeholders, improve case management, and enhance support for pregnant women and families on issues related to nutrition and maternal and child health.

In a statement, Hatem Qarmati, from the social action department in the province of Taza, emphasized that this training is part of ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health and promote good health practices among the target populations.

This initiative also illustrates, according to him, the community-based approach adopted by the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), through strengthening the presence of local stakeholders in remote areas and districts, bringing health services closer to the population, and contributing to the evolution of behaviors and practices that impact the health of mothers and children.

For her part, Samira Bennasser, head of the health facilities network service at the provincial delegation of Health and Social Protection, indicated that this meeting constitutes the fourth stage of a training program that has already covered the localities of Aknoul, Tahla, and Tainaste.

She specified that this initiative is part of the national awareness campaign on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, organized from October 20 to November 20, 2026, under the slogan “Exclusive breastfeeding: the first six months are enough,” with the aim of raising awareness among mothers and families about the benefits of this practice during the first six months of an infant’s life.

The attention given to the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is of particular importance, given the crucial role of this period in physical and cognitive development and in building the foundations for good long-term health. Raising awareness of healthy eating, monitoring pregnancies, and promoting breastfeeding are therefore essential levers for improving maternal and child health.

These training programs contribute to strengthening the community health system by training local human resources and developing their skills in communication, awareness-raising, and support, thereby facilitating access to health services and improving their quality, particularly for families in rural and remote areas.

This action is part of the fourth program of the third phase of the INDH, dedicated to boosting the human capital of rising generations, which gives a central place to the health of mothers and children, through initiatives aimed at strengthening health prevention, contributing to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality and improving the conditions for the development of future generations.