Xangongo- At least 45 technicians of the education, health and social sectors are taking part in a training seminar on screening and diagnosing malnutrition and mental health in childhood in southern Cunene province.
Organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) an overall 38 teachers, five psychologists and two nurses are taking part in the two-day training.
Lucas Almeida, UNICEF Nutrition Officer and trainer, said they are training and showing teachers simple and effective resources for caring for the mental and nutritional health of children in the region.
He said that the aim is to improve teachers' resources and activities and to welcome children into schools, taking into account the principles of psychosocial care and inclusion in the most varied sectors of society.
Ombadja's municipal education director, João Luís, praised the importance of the training, emphasizing that training technicians in nutrition and mental health improves the teaching and learning process.
João Luís said that anxiety and depression in children should be a matter of extreme importance, since mental health needs to be taken care of.
Luis recalled that the seminar is part of the cooperation, promotion of knowledge and strategies on early childhood development promoted by UNICEF and funded by the African Development Bank, in collaboration with the education sector, which has been ongoing since 2020.
The seminar includes topics such as "child malnutrition in Angola and its impact on children's lives", "school as a space for protection and development" and "early stimulation of children aged 0-3".
With a population of 394,964, the municipality of Ombadja is 98 kilometers away from the Ondjiva city and is divided into the communes of Xangongo , Humbe, Naulila, Mucope and Ombala Yo Mungo.FI/LHE/ART/TED/AMP
