By Murtala Muhammad
Catalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) Project, has activated Nutrition Corners and Facility Gardens in ten benefiting Local Government Areas in Bauchi State to improve healthy diet access for pregnant and lactating mothers.
The CASCADE Project, is being implemented by Development Exchange Centre (DEC), in Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Jama’are, Katagum, Misau, Ningi, Toro, Warji and Zaki Local Government Areas, with each of them having two Nutrition Corners and two Facility Gardens sited in selected primary health care centres.
Speaking to journalists at the Gokaru Primary Health Care Centre in Alkaleri, the Project’s Health and Nutrition Technical Officer, Ms Anna Ishaku, said the initiative provides designated spaces for counselling and food demonstrations geared towards addressing the needs of pregnant and lactating women.
Ms Ishaku explained that activating the Nutrition Corners and gardens would motivate families to adopt healthier diets and good feeding practices, thereby reducing the risk of maternal and child malnutrition.
She added that each health facility is cultivating improved varieties of Gboma Sika, tomato, okra and sweet potato, which form part of the CASCADE value chain.
The Nutrition Focal Person for Alkaleri Local Council, Abubakar Ahmad, said the intervention was timely, noting that the availability of locally grown, nutrient-rich foods would support better dietary habits in the area.
The project taught pregnant and lactating women how to prepare different dishes with locally available foods.
In an interview some pregnant women, including Fatima Yahaya, Aisha Ahmad and Maryam Sunusi, welcomed the initiative and pledged to establish home gardens and cultivate improved vegetables for their families’ benefit.
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