By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board has flag off the activation of nutrition corners and creation of facility gardens at PHCs level as a strategy towards reducing the high burden of malnutrition in the state.
The project supported by Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience ( CASCADE ) and Development Exchange Centre(DEC) is taking place at twenty five PHCs across five local government areas of Bauchi, Dass, Jama’are, Ningi and Toro .
Project manager CASCADE, Isaac Ishaya Audu said the activation of the nutrition corners is an outcome of a situational analysis the organization conducted on Frontline health workers where findings indicated low access to nutrition education among women in rural areas.
” The nutrition corners targets pregnant women and lactating mothers who frequently visit the health facilities and the project is using ANC sessions to educate the women on household recipes that they can replicate at home to boost their nutritional status and that of their families”.
Ishaya noted that the creation of facility garden is expected to compliment the nutrition corners and it’s an opportunity for women of reproductive age will get basic knowledge on good agronomy practices.
“We are exploring opportunities to leverage on the facility garden to introduce production related skills like the cultivation of orange flesh potatoes tropical vegetables”.
The project manager noted that these women are expected to get adequate information and training on key nutritional messages to replicate same in their homes.
Executive Chairman,Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said the state has poor indices on malnutrition according to NDHS 2023/2024, noting that it require multi sectoral approach to address it.
“Inflation, ignorance and lack of exclusive breastfeeding are some of the factors contributing to the increase of malnutrition in Bauchi State “.
He appreciated CASCADE for reactivating nutrition corners and the creation of facility gardens in some selected PHCs noting that it will go along way is improving the nutritional status of the people.
State commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development Zainap Baban Takko reiterates the commitment of the ministry on the healthy wellbeing of women and children.
Represented by Habiba Adamu, the commissioner said the nutrition corners will help the women get more information on how to use local crops to prepare balance diets .
She encouraged them to also create small home gardens where they can grow vegetables.(www.krestnews.com).