The IBFAN network partnership and other collaborators, on Thursday, April 26, held a one-day annual general meeting, at NaNA conference hall in Bakau.

The theme for this year’s AGM was: How can we be heard at different level? This year meeting was facilitated by Ms Armanda Gani, IBFAN Programme Officer from Swerziland.

In her opening remarks, Ms Armanda Gani, the facilitator noted that the future of our infant starts with adequate food and nutrition throughout the live cycle, from conception to adulthood.  “Breast-feeding remains a human right, even in this new century and beyond. Every woman has a right to breast-feed her child,” she said.

According to her, African countries are constantly challenged by low socio-economic condition, some of which forced women to seek for any type of employment, even employment that undermines their time with their infant.

She then urged participants to participate fully and look into the issue of IBFAN co-ordination mechanism both at the national and regional levels, and come up with good recommendations that are suitable for coaching and advocating roles, encourage network expansion, avoiding loss of babies and mothers.

Modou Phall, NaNA Programme Officer, reiterated the importance of the AGM saying “as any organisation, it help members to share ideas, experiences and also to take stock of what had happened in the cause of their annual activities. It also gives members the opportunity to map out the way forward”.  

He then advised the members not to make recommendations that they cannot implement. Hamat Bah of NaNA delivered vote of thanks.