Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Counsellor at Life at Best Development Initiative

Job Overview

• MIYCN Counselors provide vital guidance on nutrition for pregnant women, infants, and young children, promoting healthy growth and development through informed feeding practices."

Key Responsibilities

• Providing nutrition education: MIYCN counselors educate caregivers on essential nutrition topics like breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and micronutrient supplementation.
• Promoting optimal feeding practices: They encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, appropriate complementary feeding from six months onwards, and continued breastfeeding up to two years or more.
• Supporting caregivers: They offer guidance and support to mothers and other caregivers on how to address common feeding challenges and ensure adequate nutrition for their children.
• Facilitating community-based training: MIYCN counselors conduct training and workshops to educate community members on MIYCN best practices.
• Supervising and mentoring: Supervise and mentor other community health workers, volunteers, or healthcare staff involved in MIYCN programs.
• Conducting home visits: Conduct home visits to assess the nutritional status of infants and young children and provide tailored advice.
• Compiling reports: They prepare reports on their activities, including the number of individuals reached and the types of support provided.
• Collaborating with other stakeholders: They work with other health professionals, community leaders, and organizations to integrate MIYCN into existing health services.

Qualifications for a MIYCN Counselor

• Diploma or degree in a relevant field such as nursing, nutrition, or public health.
• Experience in community-based nutrition programs and/or maternal and child health.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of local language and culture (in some contexts).
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel).