Community Food Bank to Tackle Malnutrition Among Vulnerable Families in Anambra
By Kenechukwu Chukwudi
The National Community Food Bank Programme in Anambra State is targeting malnutrition among vulnerable families, particularly women and children, through the distribution of locally sourced nutritious food items.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chizoba Ezeaso, stated this in Amawbia during the commissioning of the National Community Food Bank Programme at the Old Governor’s Lodge.
The programme was commissioned by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and his wife, Nonye Soludo.
Dr. Ezeaso explained that the programme would provide vulnerable families with locally sourced food items, including rice, plantain and other nutritious produce, to cushion the effect of economic challenges and improve nutrition.
She said the intervention would particularly benefit women and children, noting that food support was important in addressing malnutrition and promoting healthy development among vulnerable families.
Dr. Ezeaso disclosed that additional food banks had been established in Onitsha and Ezinifite to ensure wider coverage across the three senatorial zones of Anambra State.
She said the initiative was a collaborative effort involving relevant government agencies and other stakeholders, including the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo.
The Executive Secretary urged mothers of malnourished children to register at primary healthcare centres, where they would be assessed and enrolled to benefit from the programme. She assured that the initiative would be sustained.
Also speaking, the South East Zonal Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Chukwumuaya Igboekwu, described the programme as a laudable intervention for vulnerable families.
Dr. Igboekwu said beyond addressing nutrition, the programme could stimulate agricultural value chains and contribute to food security by creating greater demand for locally produced food.
He said the initiative had the support of the Bank of Agriculture, Federal Ministries of Health and Agriculture, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, WHO and other stakeholders.
After commissioning the facility, Senator Oluremi Tinubu interacted with beneficiaries and assured them that the programme was free of charge, urging them to use the food items to support proper nutrition and healthy development of their children.
Some beneficiaries, including Chidinma Anthony from Urum in Awka North, Chinelo Ezenwa from Abagana in Njikoka and Grace Agbata from Nri in Anaocha, expressed appreciation for the intervention.
The beneficiaries, mostly nursing mothers, expressed happiness over the support and thanked the First Lady and the wife of the Anambra State Governor for the programme.
