UNICEF Advises on Consumption of Local Meals to Boost Healthcare

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Enugu office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advised mothers in Anambra State on the need to eat and also serve their children healthy and nutritious meals.

The organisation also said many local food found in rural communities were far more nutritious than the fast food and other inorganic food that many prefer today.

Various speakers at the flag off the ceremony of the first round of optimised maternal newborn and child health week, held at Umueri Civic Centre, Anambra East Local Government Area, called on mothers to choose exclusive breast feeding and also learn to eat healthy food, especially local meals that are nutritious.

Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, who spoke with journalists at the event said: “Yes, local food is good, and our call is for people to ensure the dietical requirements for pregnant mothers as well as children. Most local meals are nutritious. We are here to sensitise them on healthy diet.”

Also, the Director of Programme Operations – Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF Nigeria, Nemat Hajeebhoy, said the need for the programme was to ensure that UNICEF support mothers in their role as mothers and as parents, and also recognise the importance of children and their health.

“We remain committed to supporting government and delivering solutions, especially in the area of nutrition. Your governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has a mantra which says ‘Solution is here’, but we hope that the next word the governor will adopt is ‘solution is nutrition’.”

The Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, who represented Soludo, thanked UNICEF for their various assistance to the state in many areas.

The event featured health talks, provision of Vitamin A supplementation, deworming all routine immunisation and birth registration for children of various ages.

For pregnant/nursing mothers, other children, adults, the programme provided Iron folate, family planning advice, treatment of minor ailment and COVID-19 vaccination.