Garment workers from 18 factories received nutrition awareness training on July 20, 2022. HELEN KELLER
In little more than a year, more than 15,000 workers at 18 factories in the capital and two provinces have attended training courses on healthy diet and infant and child parenting from Helen Keller International in Cambodia. Experts believe that their improved dietary and nutritional knowledge will help to keep them healthier.
In 2021, Helen Keller launched the programme, with the support of the German international development organisation Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the The Multisectoral Food and Nutrition Security (MUSEFO) project.
The organisation plans to provide training to more than 20,000 workers, including employers and employees in 28 target locations in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampot and Kampong Thom.
Chum Sen Veasna, programme manager at Helen Keller, told The Post on January 10 that from October 2021 to December last year, training had been provided to 15,590 workers at 18 factories, located in Phnom Penh, Kampot and Kampong Thom.
“We educated the employees about the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies. The training also focused on the benefits of a safe and nutritious diet for women and children, and good hygiene practices. The instructors also explained the contents of the Kingdom’s labour law, as it relates to maternity leave,” he said.
In addition to these topics, Sen Veasna said the course also breastfeeding best practices and methods, including hand expression or the use of a breast pump, to pregnant or lactating women. It also discussed weighs of avoiding excess weight gain during pregnancy and provided information on dietary recommendations for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
“We also provided guidance on a safe and nutritious diet for children from the age of six months. By teaching them how to raise healthy, smart children, who can reach their full potential, we are boosting the national economy in the future,” he added.
Helen Keller cited previous studies in other countries that showed programmes that improving nutrition among the children and infants of working parents profitable for employees and employers. It reduces health care costs for parents and staff absences, while increasing productivity. It also reduces recruitment and training costs, as female employees are more likely to remain at their jobs for longer.
The studies also found that similar programmes provided a platform for women to access information on women’s nutrition, and labour laws.
The 2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey showed an alarming decline in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, with figures dropping from 65 per cent in 2014 to 51 per cent in 2022.
Cambodia announced at the Tokyo Summit on Nutrition for Growth in December 2021 that the government aims to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants and children aged from zero to six months to 85 percent by 2030.
