NUTRITION SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN FOR ANAMBRA STATE

The major commodities (cassava and rice) of the farm households are carbohydrate-based foods, constituting the major staples of most people. The dietary intake of most households is carbohydrate based, therefore not nutritionally adequate. The farmers through the matching grants and production technology support received from extension staff of the programme had increased their yields and incomes on that premise, it is also necessary that they be sensitized to utilize some of the increased incomes to improve their household nutrition to attain healthy living. The sensitization cut across eight local government areas in Anamabra State Nigeria- AYAMELUM, AWKA NORTH, ANAMBRA EAST, ANAMBRA WEST, ORUMBA NORTH, IHIALA, ORUMBA SOUTH, OGBARU

This activity has the following objectives:

1. Guarantee the beneficiaries to change their behaviour embrace dietary diversity for sustainable health.
2. Have them understand how to process and preserve locally available foods to maintain adequate nutrition.
3. Ensure that the beneficiaries appreciate the importance of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation as it relates to nutrition especially at this COVID-19 era.
4. Ensure that the pregnant women, nursing mothers and children have access to right variety (quality/quantity) and safe diets.
5. Have beneficiaries understand the nutritional and health benefits of moringa oleifera

Nutrition is the science of right feeding of food. Good nutrition boosts immunity, therefore when farm households are well informed on the essence of good nutrition; their protection against the COVID-19 deadly disease will be increased, thus minimizing the infection rate. Farmers also need to know that most of the foods they produce locally when properly processed can give nutritious and healthy diets, thus guaranteeing healthy living. It is worthy to note that children under the age of two years have particular needs because their bodies are growing and changing quickly. Therefore good nutrition is important for all. It is also important to note that health and nutrition are closely linked.
Crop cultivating diversification will lead to diversity of diet, having different nutrients in diet and serving children and pregnant women adequate diet will prevent sickness and malnutrition. Malnutrition is the inadequate intake of nutrients and not having the six classes of food in the diet which causes stunting and poor growth. Hygiene is very important in maintaining good health which includes cleanliness, regular of hands wash and the food. Breast feeding a baby for at least first 6 months is key to the child’s proper development.  The importance of micronutrients in the body cannot be overemphasized especially vitamin A, iron and iodine in growth, health and learning ability of children. The high functional value of moringa oleifera was presented to the beneficiaries in terms of vitamin A, C, iron, potassium, calcium and protein, with examples of recipes that can be prepared with moringa oleifera.  The essence of this nutrition training is to feed on varieties of food for an adequate diet to avoid malnutrition.

A display of variety of processed food to improve food diversity/ adequate diet

Organ flesh sweet potato juice                       Air dried Orange flesh sweet potato


Orange Flesh sweet  potato Flour

At  Ogbaru                     
Participants at Ayamelum displays their training manuals
 
Nutritionist sensitizing farmers in Anambra West LGA

Nutritionist discussing on diet diversity at Orumba North