The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has inaugurated a five-year food security and malaria prevention project aimed at empowering 1,200 vulnerable households in Katsina and Nasarawa states.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Senior Communications Manager of IHVN, Ms Uzoma Nwofor, on Saturday in Abuja.
Nwofor said the project, which was inaugurated simultaneously in both states on Thursday, is designed to promote sustainable agriculture, improved nutrition practices and malaria prevention among vulnerable households.
She explained that IHVN, which currently provides HIV services in four states, selected Katsina and Nasarawa based on empirical evidence of vulnerability, including poverty levels, malaria burden and HIV prevalence.
According to her, a vulnerability assessment identified 400 at-risk households in Katsina State and 800 in Nasarawa State.
Nwofor said the project seeks to strengthen household resilience through food demonstration trainings using locally available foods, with trained community workers providing house-to-house follow-up support.
She added that beneficiaries would also be trained in soap making to promote improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices.
“The households have been grouped into three agricultural categories: 200 for livestock farming, 400 for home gardening and 600 for community farming to cultivate vitamin- and protein-rich crops,” she said.
Nwofor disclosed that beneficiaries had been provided with planting pots, animal shelters, livestock medications and fertilizers, while trained community workers would continue to supervise farming activities and introduce improved agricultural techniques.
She further revealed that IHVN is collaborating with 13 health facilities to facilitate referrals for malaria cases and severe malnutrition.
Quoting the Project Director, Dr Victoria Igbinomwanhia, Nwofor said beneficiaries received livestock, including pigs, goats and chickens, as well as farming tools, seeds and training in livestock and crop production.
According to Igbinomwanhia, households were also trained in nutrition, financial management through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and malaria prevention practices.
She explained that the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Health, community-based organizations and traditional leaders to ensure sustainability.
“This project builds on our years of public health interventions, particularly in caring for people infected and affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children,” she said.
A community worker, Ms Oluwayemisi Adeniji, expressed optimism that the initiative would improve household health and nutrition outcomes.
“We expect beneficiaries to share the knowledge and skills gained with others in their communities and ensure that these skills are put into practice,” Adeniji said.
Some beneficiaries, including Mrs Marakisiyya Yusuf, 35, and Mr Sulieman Mashi, 42, from Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, said the training had already begun to make a positive impact.
Yusuf said she learned how to use VSLA to save for the future and planned to establish a savings group in her community, while Mashi said he intended to start a savings group and teach his wife how to prepare balanced meals using knowledge gained from the nutrition demonstrations.
It was reported that the project is being implemented by IHVN with funding support from BMZ/Gesundes Africa.
