From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo has disclosed that Anambra state has made substantial progress in addressing nutritional challenges and now performs better in the South East Zone in key areas of health care delivery.
Speaking during the launch of “Nonye’s healthy Pap” a natural food supplement to tackle malnutrition among children in the state on Wednesday in Awka, the governor’s wife stated that With critical investments in the health sector and greater attention to primary health care delivery – including the ongoing free antenatal care and delivery services, nutritional securities led by intense campaign on exclusive breastfeeding , Anambra has gained weight on the national nutritional index compared to other states in the country.
She stated that the natural meal is wholesomely-prepared supplement that provides children with all the necessary contents to boost their general immune system made of of three key ingredients, namely: groundnut, corn, and soya bean, and is rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3 and Iron.
She said the idea behind the journey is to rescue children with special nutritional needs, adding that in the medium term, she wants the state to move from the present second spot as the state with the lowest number of Under-5 mortality to the first position, and maintain the spot for as long as it takes.
She noted that being aware of the prevalent protein deficiency among children in Nigeria caused by accessibility, availability and affordability of food items, including protein sources, the goal is to close the gap by providing all-round, effective intervention for homes and communities.
Mrs Soludo also noted as the government continues to establish breakthrough strategies to completely beat malnutrition among children in the state, her NGO will provide intervention that supports those strategies to deliver effective results, taking note of the heavy impact of food insecurity and social and economic challenges on rural homes.
She added that the intervention offers every child in Anambra State the opportunity to grow healthy and beat the threats of malnutrition.
Earlier in his remarks, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike said that a seamless distribution pattern for the product distribution across the twenty-one local government areas of Anambra State.
He added that every local government would have a known referral centre where the meal can be accessed, stating that each referral centre will develop a database that feeds a central database with information about collection, monitoring, and progress, while every child who is on the meal would be consistently monitored to ascertain their recovery progress.
On her part, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, commended Mrs Soludo for providing the historical intervention, and for leading from front in a passionate bid to make Anambra State a reference point for health excellence in the country.
Dr. Chioma Mbachu, a consultant paediatrician and Mrs Jane Umeugo, a nutritionist, who were two of the resource persons who delivered keynote speeches at the event, said that Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap boast all the right nutrients to correct malnutrition in children, including protein, healthy fats, fibre, carbohydrates and zinc.
Highlight of the event was the official unveiling and presentation of the product’s cartons to representatives of each of the twenty-one local government areas who including the transition committee chairmen, heads of designated medical facilities where the supplement can be accessed, among others.