By; FUNMI OROYE ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government through the state Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) has procured 27 food demonstration equipment for 27 communities for Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Out Patients Therapeutic Programmes (OPTs) in the state.
The chairperson of Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) and wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Aisha Ummi Garba el-Rufai disclosed this during the launching of Food Demonstration Corners in Primary Health Centre, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
According to her, this is aimed at improving nutrition interventions at various communities.
She explained that, when breast milk is no longer sufficient for a child, it imposes a challenge as ignorance in knowledge of basic nutrition, food and environmental hygiene practices on mothers/caregivers in the state plays a key role.
She maintained that, poor infant and young child feeding remains the immediate cause of malnutrition with the negative impact on the growth and cognitive development of the child.
She said, the goal is to adopt strategies to accelerate responses to improve complementary feeding practices for Kaduna State children between 6 to 23 months old with a view to reducing malnutrition and promoting the health of the state and nation at large.
She expressed that the centre is to serve as a model for PHCs across 23 local government areas of Kaduna State as Kasuwan Magani was selected to be the health facility where food demonstration corner was launched.
She called on local government sole administrators and their wives who are strong advocates for Nutrition programmes in the state to duplicate the same in their various local government areas for optimal feeding growth of their children which will go a long way in reducing malnutrition in the state.
She appealed to traditional and religious leaders to continue their support to all the nutrition interventions at their various communities.
She stressed the need for Mothers and caregivers of the children to cooperate and practice what they have learnt during food demonstrations at health facilities when they get back to their communities.
In a remark, the Kajuru Local Government Area Sole Administrator, Aminu Rabiu Zangon-Aya, said the local government has been the pioneer in this dimension and is far ahead in the implementation of the programme.
Rabiu said, five of their PHCs are equipped with all necessary materials that will enhance the take off of nutrition corner. And in the near future they are going into other PHCs for the implementation of nutrition corners.
He expressed that, they strongly believe that this government has given health sector, a paramount importance in its budget and was deeply concerned over the health of its people.
He thanked the state government and all the development partners for their wonderful support to the local government.
