The Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE), a non-governmental organization, has inaugurated nutrition corners and facility gardens in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State.
Anna Ishaiku, Health and Nutrition Technical Officer of CASCADE, disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the facilities to Inkil and Gokaru Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Alkaleri LGA.
She said the facilities were also inaugurated in Bauchi, Misau, Zaki, Warji, Katagum, Jama’are, Ningi, Toro, and Dass LGAs.
“The overall goal of inaugurating these facilities is to reduce maternal and child malnutrition across CASCADE implementing states,” Ishaiku said.
She explained that the nutrition corners provide designated spaces for counseling, food demonstrations, and malnutrition prevention. “They also encourage increased consumption of healthy diets by pregnant and lactating women attending the selected health facilities,” she added.
Ishaiku noted that the project includes demonstrations on seed planting, cooking, and access to nutritious foods at the PHCs. “We encourage women to plant seeds such as gboma, sika, tomato, and okro at their homes for personal consumption. All seeds used for demonstrations are improved varieties, not genetically modified. For instance, the gboma sika seed boosts blood production and is a rich source of iron.”
She further stated that health workers at the benefiting facilities would continue teaching women cooking methods during antenatal visits.
Abubakar Ahmed, Nutrition Focal Person of Alkaleri LGA, commended CASCADE for the initiative, noting that it would greatly benefit mothers and children in the area. “The health of women and their children will improve if they effectively apply what they are taught,” he said.
A cross-section of pregnant and lactating mothers who spoke at the facilities also praised CASCADE and pledged to take full advantage of the opportunities provided.
